Sirach 41

41Ah! Death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee

To himthat liveth at peace in his habitation;

To him that is at ease, and prospereth in all,

And that still hath strength to enjoy luxury.

Hail! Death, how welcome is thy decree

To the luckless man, and that lacketh strength,

That stumbleth and trippethat everything,

That is broken, and hath lost hope.

Fear not Death, ⁽it is⁽ thy destiny,

Remember that the former and the latter ⁽share it⁽ with thee.

This is the portion of all flesh from God,

And how canst thou withstand the decree of the Most High!

⁽Be it⁽ for a thousand years, for a hundred, or for ten ⁽that thou livest⁽,

In Sheol there are no reproaches concerning life.

An abominable offspring is the generation of sinners,

And a godless sprout is in the dwellings of the wicked.

From the son of the unrighteous man shall the dominion be wrenched away,

And want shall ever abide with his seed.

A godless father do the children curse,

For because of him do they suffer reproach.

Woe unto you, ungodly men,

Who have forsaken the Law of the Most High God!

If ye increase ⁽it will be⁽ for mischief,

And if ye bear children ⁽it will be⁽ for sighing;

If ye stumble ⁽it will be⁽ for everlasting joy,

And if ye die ⁽it will be⁽ for a curse.

All that is of naught returneth to naught,

So the godless man,—from nothingness to nothingness.

Vanity is man ⁽concerning⁽ his body,

But the name of the pious shall not be cut off.

Be in fear for thy name, for that abideth longer for thee

Than thousands of precious treasures.

Life’s goods last for limited days,

But the reward of a name for days without number.

^[Hidden wisdom and concealed treasure,

What is the use of either?

Better the man who hideth his folly,

Than the man who hideth his wisdom.^[

Hear, O children, instruction concerning shame,

And be abashed according to my judgement.

For not every kind of shame is meet to retain,

And not every kind of abashment is to be approved.

Be ashamed of a father and a mother of whoredom,

Of a prince and a ruler of lies,

Of a master and a mistress of deceit,

Of an assembly and a people of transgression,

Of a comrade and friend of treachery,

And of a place, where thou sojournest, of pride.

^[Be ashamed^[ to break an oath or a covenant,

To stretch out thine elbow at meat,

To withhold a gift that is asked for,

To turn away the face of thy friend,

To cause the dividing of portions to cease,

To be silent towards him that greeteth ⁽thee⁽,

To look upon a woman that is a whore,

To gaze on a woman that hath a husband,

To be busy with his maid,

And to violate her bed,

To ^[speak to^[ a friend with reproachful words;—

And after giving a gift contemn not,—