Sirach 14

¹Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth,

and doesn’t suffer from sorrow for sins.1

²Blessed is he whose soul does not condemn him,

and who has not given up hope.

³Riches are not appropriate for a stingy person.

What would a miser do with money?

⁴He who gathers by denying himself gathers for others.

Others will revel in his goods.

⁵If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good?

He won’t enjoy his possessions.

⁶There is none more evil than he who is grudging to himself.

This is a punishment for his wickedness.

⁷Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness.

In the end, he reveals his wickedness.

⁸A miser is evil.

He turns away and disregards souls.

⁹A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion.

Wicked injustice dries up his soul.

¹⁰A miser begrudges bread,

and it is lacking at his table.

¹¹My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well,

and bring worthy offerings to the Lord.

¹²Remember that death will not wait,

and that the covenant of Hades hasn’t been shown to you.

¹³Do good to your friends before you die.

According to your ability, reach out and give to them.

¹⁴Don’t deprive yourself of a good day.

Don’t let your share of a desired good pass you by.

¹⁵Won’t you leave your labors to another,

and your toils be divided by lot?

¹⁶Give, take, and treat yourself well,

because there is no seeking of luxury in Hades.

¹⁷All flesh grows old like a garment,

for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!”

¹⁸Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree,

some it sheds, and some grow,

so also are the generations of flesh and blood:

one comes to an end and another is born.1

¹⁹Every work rots and falls away,

and its builder will depart with it.

²⁰Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom,

and who reasons by his understanding.

²¹He who considers her ways in his heart

will also have knowledge of her secrets.

²²Go after her like a hunter,

and lie in wait in her paths.

²³He who peers in at her windows

will also listen at her doors.

²⁴He who lodges close to her house

will also fasten a nail in her walls.

²⁵He will pitch his tent near at hand to her,

and will lodge in a lodging where good things are.

²⁶He will set his children under her shelter,

and will rest under her branches.

²⁷By her he will be covered from heat,

and will lodge in her glory.