Sirach 41

¹O death, how bitter is the memory of you: to a man who has peace in his substance

²to a quiet man, and to him whose ways are directed properly in all things, and who still has the strength to take nourishment

³O death, your judgment is good to the indigent man, and to him whose strength has diminished

⁴who is failing due to old age, and who is anxious about all things, and to the unbelieving man who has lost patience

⁵Do not choose to dread the judgment of death. Remember the things that occurred before you, and the things that will occur after you. This judgment is from the Lord upon all flesh

⁶And what will happen to you is well-pleasing to the Most High, whether in ten, or one hundred, or one thousand years

⁷For death is no indictment of life

⁸The sons of sinners, and those who pass their time in the manner of the houses of the impious, become sons of abominations

⁹The inheritance of the sons of sinners will perish, and continual disgrace will be with their offspring

¹⁰The sons of an impious father will complain, for they are in disgrace because of him

¹¹Woe to you, impious men, who have abandoned the law of the Most High Lord

¹²And when you are born, you will be born into a curse; and when you die, your portion will be in a curse

¹³All things that are from the earth shall return to the earth. Similarly, the impious will proceed from a curse unto perdition

¹⁴The grieving of men is in their body, but the name of the impious will be wiped away

¹⁵Have concern for your good name. For this will continue with you, more so than a thousand precious and great treasures

¹⁶A good life has its number of days, but a good name will continue forever

¹⁷Sons, practice discipline peacefully. For what use is there in either concealed wisdom, or undiscovered treasure

¹⁸Better is the man who hides his foolishness than the man who hides his wisdom

¹⁹Yet truly, have respect for these things which proceed from my mouth

²⁰For it is not good to observe every reverence. And all things do not please all persons in their beliefs

²¹Have shame of these things: of fornication before father and mother, and of a lie before the first leader and the powerful

²²of a crime before a ruler or a judge, of iniquity before a congregation or a people

²³of injustice before a companion or a friend, and of the place in which you live

²⁴of theft, and of the truth before God, and of the covenant, of reclining to eat bread, and of deceitfulness in giving or receiving

²⁵of silence before those who greet you, of looking upon a woman of fornication, and of averting your face from a relative

²⁶You should not avert your face from your neighbor, nor should you take away a portion and not restore it

²⁷You should not stare at another man’s wife, and nor pursue his handmaid, nor approach her bed

²⁸Avoid reproachful speeches before friends, and when you give, you should not place blame