The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 42

1 Of these things be not thou ashamed and accept no person to sin thereby

2 Of the law of the most High and his covenant and of judgment to justify the ungodly

3 Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers or of the gift of the heritage of friends

4 Of exactness of balance and weights or of getting much or little

5 And of me hants’ indifferent selling of much correction of children and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed

6 Sure keeping is good where an evil wife is and shut up where many hands are

7 Deliver all things in number and weight and put all in writing that thou givest out or receivest in

8 Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young thus shalt thou be truly learned and approved of all men living

9 The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth and the care for her taketh away sleep when she is young lest she pass away the flower of her age and being married lest she should be hated

10 In her virginity lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her ather’s house and having an husband lest she should misbehave herself and when she is married lest she should be barren

11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies and a byword in the city and a reproach among the people and make thee ashamed before the multitude

12 Behold not eve body’s beauty and sit not in the midst of women

13 For from garments cometh a moth and from women wickedness

14 Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman a woman I say which bringeth shame and reproach

15 I will now remember the works of the Lord and declare the things that I have seen In the words of the Lord are his works

16 The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord

17 The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works which the Almighty Lord firmly settled that whatsoever is might be established for his glory

18 He seeketh out the deep and the heart and considereth their crafty devices for the Lord knoweth all that may be known and he beholdeth the signs of the world

19 He declareth the things that are past and for to come and revealeth the steps of hidden things

20 No thought escapeth him neither any word is hidden from him

21 He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom and he is from everlasting to everlasting unto him may nothing be added neither can he be diminished and he hath no need of any counsellor

22 Oh how desirable are all his works and that a man may see even to a spark

23 All these things live and remain for ever for all uses and they are all obedient

24 All things are double one against another and he hath made nothing imperfect

25 One thing establisheth the good or another and who shall be filled with beholding his glory