Ecclesiasticus 14

Ecclesiasticus

Chapter 14

14:1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.

14:2 Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope.

14:3 Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?

14:4 He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.

14:5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.

14:6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness:

14:7 And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.

14:8 The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.

14:9 The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.

14:10 An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.

14:11 My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings.

14:12 Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.

14:13 Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.

14:14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift over- pass thee.

14:15 Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labours?

14:16 Give and take, and justify thy soul.

14:17 Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food.

14:18 All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on a green tree.

14:19 Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.

14:20 Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.

14:21 And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein.

14:22 Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.

14:23 He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:

14:24 He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door:

14:25 He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.

14:26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:

14:27 He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.

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Douay Rheims Version of the Catholic Bible