Ajccrjpha. ECCLESI 21 The death thereosis an evil death, the grave were bttter than it. ai It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof. 23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and rot be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a iion, and devour them as a leopard. 24 Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy lilver and goiu, 25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth. 26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait. C II A P. XXIX. I We must Jhcxx> mercy, and lend: 4 but the torrower must not defraud the lender. 9 Qs giving alms. HE that is merciful wiil lend unto hisncighbour;andhethatstren;;thtneth his hand, keepeth the commandments. 2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season. 3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee. 4 t Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them. j Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and for his neighbour's money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time. 6 If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count aa if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour, he will pay him disgrace. 7 Many therefore hath refused to lend for oihtr men's ill dealing-, fearing to be defrauded. 8 Yet have thou patience with a man in poor eliate, and delay not to shew him mercy. 9 \ Help the poor for the commandments' fake, aii'1 turn him not away because of his poverty. 10 Lost: thy money for thy brother atid thy friend, and let it not rust unikr a stone to be loft. ii Lay up thy treasure according to she commandmentsof the most High.and it snail bring thec more profit than gold, A S TI C U S Apicryfht. 11 Shut up alms in thy storehouse*: and it shall deliver thee from ail affliction. 13 It shall fight for thee against tljine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear. 14 An honest man is surety for faij neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him. 15 Forget not the friendship of thy surety, !or he hath given his life for thee-. 16 A linner will overthrow the good estate of his surety: 17 And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in danger] that delivered him. 18 Suretifhip hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as 3 ware of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations. 19 A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord, snail fall into suretifhip: and he that undertaketh and folloaeth Other men's business for gain, shall fall into suits. 20 Help thy neighbour according te thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same. 21 The chief thing for life is water and bread, and clothing, and an boose to cover shame. 22 Better is the life of a poor man ia a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man's house. 23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the re proach of thy house. 24 For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open tiy mouth. 25 Thou Oiah entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words: 26 Come, thou stranger, and furniffi a table, and feed me of that thou haft ready. 27 Give place, thon stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine houl'«. 28 These things are grievou* to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of house room, aud reproaching of the lender. CHAP. XXX. 1 It is good to correct o:tr children, 7 aid not to ceckrr the:/:. 14 Health is better than <w-.,aith. HK that loveth hi3 son causeth bim oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end. » He Afocrypha. Chap. a Hethatchaftiseth his son shall have joy in him, and (hall rejoice of him among his acquaintance. 3 He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he stall rejoice of him. 4 Though his father die, yet he is as though he were "not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself. 5 While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful. 6 He left behind him an avengtr against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends. 7 f He that maketh too much of his son stall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry. 8 An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful. 9 Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness. io Laugh not with him, left thou have sorrow with him,and lest thou gnalh thy teeth in the end. ii Give him;no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies. Ii Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he isa child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart. 13 Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee. 14 1 Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that i» afflicted in his body. 15 Health and good estate of body are above a'.l gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth. ..' 16 There U no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart. 17 Death is better than a bitter life ox continual sickness. 18 Delicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set upon a grave; ■•'.!■ 19 What good doeth the offering unto an idol i for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord. 10 He seeth with hie eyes .ind groanetb, a« an eunuch that embr.ueth a virgin, and liglieth. ai Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thy self in thine own counsel. •1 The gladness of the heart ii the x*xi. Apocrypha. s life of man, and thejoyfulnese of ama prolongeth his days. »3 Love thine own sou , and co-nfort thy heart, remove'sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein. 34 Envy and wrath storten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time. *5 A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet. CHAP. XXXL I Of the d'fire of riches, i» of moderation and excess in eating, or drinkinr •wine. WATCHING for riches consometh the flest, and the care thereof driveth away sleep. i Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a fore disease breaketh sleep. 3 The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth he is filled with his delfcates. 4 The poor labourtth in his poor estate, and when he leaveth off, he is still needy. 5 He that loveth golo) shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof. •■}.. 6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present. 7 It is a ftumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it,-and every fool (hall hi taken therewith. 8 Blessed i s the rich that is sound without blemish, and hath not gone after gold. 9 Who it he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people. "10 Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it? it His goods (hallbe established, and the congregation (hall declare his alms. 111 If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and fay not, There is much meat on it. 13 Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thin^r: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion. 14 Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dilh. 15 Judge of thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point. 16 Eat, as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated. 17.Leave Apocrypha. 17 Leave off first for manners'sake; and be not unsalable, left thou offend. 18 When thou fittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all. 19 A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed. ao Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating 5 he riseth early, and his wits are with him •. but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man. ai And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest. ai My son, hear me, and despise me rot, and at the last thou shalt find as 1 told thee: in all thy workt be quick, so shall there no sickness come unto thee. 13 Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed. . . 94 But against him that Is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness stiall not be doubted of. a 5 Shew not thy valiantnesi in wine; for wine hath destroyed many. 16 The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness. ay Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men glad. a8 Wine measurably drunk, and in season, bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind: ao But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarelling. 30 Drunkenness increascth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds. 31 Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him [to drink.] J CHAP. XXXII. I [elf and to God. % And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayeft be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of tbt feast. ECCLESIASTICUS Apocrypha. 3 Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound judgement; and hinder not mufick. 4 Pour not out words where there is a musician, and (hew not forth wisdom out of time. 5 A concert of mufick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of carbuncle set in gold. 6 Abi signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the melody of mufick with pleasant wine. 7 Speak, young man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely when thou art twice alked. 8 Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knoweth and yet holdetb his tongne. 9 If thou be among great men, nuke not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words. 10 Before the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced man shall go favour. 11 Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home without delay. la There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but fin not by proud speech. '13 And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his good things. 14 f Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that feck him early shall find favour. 15 He that seekerh the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended thereat. 16 They that fear the Lord shall fiad judgement, and shall kindle justice as a light. 17 A sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse according to hit will. 18 1 A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man it not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without counsel 19 Do nothing without advice; tod when thou hast once done, repent not. ao Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not among the stones. ai Be not confident in a plain way. aa And beware of thine own children. a 3 T In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the keeping of tbe commandments. 24 He that believeth in the Lord Uketh heed to the commandment: and he thai Apocrypha. Chap that trufteth in htm (hall fare never the worse. CHAP. XXXIII. I The safety of him thatfeareth the Lord, t Times and seasons are of God. THERE (hall no evil happen unto him that scaresh the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him. a A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm. 3 A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle. 4 Prepare what to fay, and so thou (halt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer. 5 The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling; axletree. 6 A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him. 7 1[ Whv doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the fun? 8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts. 9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed then, and some of them hath he made ordinary days. Io And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth. II In much knowledge the Lord bath divided them, and made their ways diverse. n Some of them hath he blessed and exalted, and some of them hath he sanctified and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their placet. 13 As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him thai made him, to render to them as liketh him best. 14 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the firmer, and the sinner against the godly. t.1 So look upon all the works of the most High, and there are two and two, one against another. 16 I awaked up last of all, an one that gathereth after the grapegatherers ■ by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my wineprcss like a gatherer of grapes. 17 Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that sees: learning. tS Hear me, O ye great men of the Apocrypha. people, and hearken with your ears ve rulers of the congregation. 'y 19 Give not thy son and wife, thr i°[h^ a°r £lend' P°*er over the! while thou 1, vest, and give not thy good, to another: Icstit repent thee, and thou intreat for the fame again. K,*0^* l^ng a3- thou liTest and ha* breath in thee, give not thyself over to any. *i For better it is that thy children snouldest stand to their courtesy. i» In all thy works keep to thvself the preeminence, leave not a stain ia thine honour. 23 At the time when thou (halt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance. *4 Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are tor the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant. m*5 if ^"set ^y servant to labour, thou (halt find reft: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty. a6 A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant. a7 Send him to labour, that he be not idle: for idleness teacheth much evil »8 Set him to work, as is fit for hinilf he be not obedient, put on more heavw fetters. * 49 But be not excessive toward any and without discretion do nothing. 30 If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hall bought him with a price. 31 If thou have a servant, intreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou intreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him i CHAP. XXXIV. I Of dreams. 13 The praise and bleffinv 0/ them that fear the Lord. 18 The prayer of the poor innocent. THE hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false; and dreams lift up fools. a Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcbeth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. 3 The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face. 4 Of an unclean thing, what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is fa!se what truth can come? 5 Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, «s a woman's heart in travail. 9 A man that hath travelled know many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom. Io He that hath no experience knoweth little; but he that hath travelled is full of prudence. Ii When 1 travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express. i» I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered because of these things. 13 f The spirit of those that fear_the Lord shall live; for their hope is in him thatsavetb them. 14 Whoso feareth the Lord (hall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope. 15 Blessed is tin- foul of liinjgkat feareth the Lord: to whom dotnrW look? and who is his strength? T6 For the eyes of the Lord are upon ■them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the fun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling. 17 He raiseth up the soul,and lighten eth the eyes: he giveth health, lite, and blessing. 18 fl He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted. 19 The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for Sn by the multitude of sacrifices. ao Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor, doeth as one that killeth the son before his father's eyes. »i The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood. 41 He that taketh away his neighbour's living (layeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of hit hire is a blood fhedder. »3 When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have they then but labour? 24 When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear? aj He that walheth himself after the touching of a deati body, if be touch it again, what availeth his washing? a6 So is it with a man that fasteth for his fins, and-goeth again, and doeth the fame: who will hear his praver ? or wins. doth his humbling profit him > CHAP. XXXV. I Sacrifices phasing to God. 14 The prays r oj the fatherless, *f the vtido-ui, anaej the humble inspirit. HE that keepeth the law, bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering. . a He that requiteth a good turn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise. 3 To depart from wickednessis a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation. 4 Thou (halt not appear empty before the Lord. 5 For all these things [are to be done] because of the commandment. 6 The offering of the righteous naVeth the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof // before the most High. 7 The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable, and the memorial thereof (hall never be forgotten. 8 Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firtfruits of thine hands. 9 In all thy gifts (hew a cheers ul countenance, and dedicate thy tithes wita gladness. 10 Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as ihou Inst gotten, prve with a cheerful ere. 11 For the Lord recompenseth.'and will give thee seven times as much. iaDonot think to corrupt with gifts, for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is Eo respect of persons. 13 He will not accept any persoa against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed. 14 H He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when (he poureth out her complaint. 15 Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her cry agaiL.t him that causeth them to fall? 16 He that serveth the Lord shall br accepted with favour, and his praver (hall reach unto the clouds. 17 The prayer of the humble pieretth the clouds: and till it conic nigh, he wt'.l not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High fli»ll beUcld to judge nghte |