Sirach 33

¹No evils will befall one who fears the Lord. Instead, God will preserve him during temptation and will free him from evils

²A wise man does not hate the commandments and the justices, and so he will not be thrown about violently, like a ship in a storm

³A man of understanding puts his faith in the law of God, and so the law is faithful to him

⁴Whoever would resolve a dispute will prepare a word, and so, having prayed, he will be heard. And he will observe discipline, and then he will respond

⁵The heart of a fool is like the wheel of a cart. And his thoughts are like a turning axel

⁶A friend who is a whisperer is like an untamed horse: he neighs under anyone who sits upon him

⁷Why does day follow after day, and light follow after light, and year follow after year, in accord with the sun

⁸By the knowledge of the Lord, they were arranged, after the sun was made, in keeping with his command

⁹And so, the seasons changed, with their feast days. And according to them, they celebrated the feast days, in their hour

¹⁰Some of them, God exalted and magnified. And some of them, he set amid the ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and from the earth, from which Adam was created

¹¹With a mulititude of disciplines, the Lord has distinguished them and diversified their ways

¹²Some of them, he has blessed and exalted. And some of them he has sanctified and placed close to himself. And some of them, he has cursed and brought low, and he has turned them from their station

¹³Just as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so as to form and to shape it

¹⁴so are all his ways in accord with his dispensation, and so is man in the hand of the One who made him. And he will repay him according to his judgment

¹⁵Good is against evil, and life is against death; so also is a sinner against a just man. And so should you consider all the works of the Most High: two and two, and one against another

¹⁶And I awakened at the very end, and I was like one who gathers grapes after the grape-gatherers

¹⁷I, too, have hoped in the blessing of God. And I have filled the winepress like one who gathers grapes

¹⁸Consider how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking discipline

¹⁹Listen to me, you great ones, with all the peoples. And incline your ears, you rulers of the Church

²⁰You should not give authority over yourself to a son or wife, to a brother or friend, in your life. And you should not give your estate to another, lest perhaps you may regret it, and then you would be begging for the same

²¹While you are still living and breathing, let no one among all flesh change you

²²For it is better if your children petition you, than if you look toward the hands of your children

²³In all your works, be pre-eminent

²⁴You should not allow a blemish upon your glory. On the day of the consummation of the days of your life, at the time of your passing, distribute your inheritance

²⁵Fodder and a rod and a burden are for a donkey; bread and discipline and work are for a servant

²⁶He works under discipline, and he seeks rest. Allow his hands to be idle, and he seeks liberty

²⁷The yoke and the strap bend a stiff neck, and continual labors bend a servant

²⁸Torture and chains are for a malevolent servant; send him to work, so that he may not be idle

²⁹For idleness has taught much evil

³⁰Appoint him to a task. For this is fitting for him. And if he will not be obedient, bend him with chains. But you should do no more than any flesh can bear. Truly, you should do nothing grievous without judgment

³¹If you have a faithful servant, let him be to you like your own soul. Treat him like a brother. For you have obtained him by the blood of your soul

³²If you harm him unjustly, he will turn away and flee

³³And then, when he lifts himself up and departs, you will not know whom to ask, or in what way to seek him