Sirach 16

¹Don’t desire a multitude of unprofitable children,

neither delight in ungodly sons.

²If they multiply, don’t delight in them

unless the fear of the Lord is in them.

³Don’t trust in their life.

Don’t rely on their numbers;

for one can be better than a thousand,

and to die childless than to have ungodly children.

⁴For from one who has understanding, a city will be populated,

but a race of wicked men will be made desolate.1

⁵I have seen many such things with my eyes.

My ear has heard mightier things than these.

⁶In a congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled.

In a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled.

⁷He was not pacified toward the giants of old time,

who revolted in their strength.

⁸He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors,

whom he abhorred for their pride.

⁹He didn’t pity the people of perdition

who were taken away in their sins,

¹⁰or in like manner, the six hundred thousand footmen

who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.

¹¹Even if there is one stiff-necked person,

it is a marvel if he will be unpunished;

for mercy and wrath are both with him who is mighty to forgive,

and he pours out wrath.

¹²As his mercy is great, so is his correction also.

He judges a man according to his works.

¹³The sinner will not escape with plunder.

The perseverance of the godly will not be frustrated.

¹⁴He will make room for every work of mercy.

Each man will receive according to his works. ¹⁵

¹⁷Don’t say, “I will be hidden from the Lord,”

and “Who will remember me from on high?”

I will not be known among so many people,

for what is my soul in a boundless creation?

¹⁸Behold, heaven, the heaven of heavens,

the deep, and the earth, will be moved when he visits.

¹⁹The mountains and the foundations of the earth together

are shaken with trembling when he looks at them.

²⁰No heart will think about these things.

Who could comprehend his ways?

²¹Like a tempest which no man can see,

so, the majority of his works are hidden.

²²Who will declare his works of righteousness?

Who will wait for them?

For his covenant is afar off.

²³He who is lacking in understanding thinks about these things.

An unwise and erring man thinks foolishly.

²⁴My son, listen to me, learn knowledge,

and heed my words with your heart.

²⁵I will impart instruction with precision,

and declare knowledge exactly.

²⁶In the judgment of the Lord are his works from the beginning.

From the making of them he determined their boundaries.

²⁷He arranged his works for all time,

and their beginnings to their generations.

They aren’t hungry or weary,

and they don’t cease from their works.

²⁸No one pushes aside his neighbor.

They will never disobey his word.

²⁹After this also the Lord looked at the earth

and filled it with his blessings.1

³⁰All manner of living things covered its surface,

and they return into it.