Sirach 41
Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)
O death, how bitter is the memory of you: to a man who has peace in his substance,
to a quiet man, and to him whose ways are directed properly in all things, and who still has the strength to take nourishment.
O death, your judgment is good to the indigent man, and to him whose strength has diminished,
who is failing due to old age, and who is anxious about all things, and to the unbelieving man who has lost patience.
Do not choose to dread the judgment of death. Remember the things that occurred before you, and the things that will occur after you. This judgment is from the Lord upon all flesh.
And what will happen to you is well-pleasing to the Most High, whether in ten, or one hundred, or one thousand years.
For death is no indictment of life.
The sons of sinners, and those who pass their time in the manner of the houses of the impious, become sons of abominations.
The inheritance of the sons of sinners will perish, and continual disgrace will be with their offspring.
The sons of an impious father will complain, for they are in disgrace because of him.
Woe to you, impious men, who have abandoned the law of the Most High Lord!
And when you are born, you will be born into a curse; and when you die, your portion will be in a curse.
All things that are from the earth shall return to the earth. Similarly, the impious will proceed from a curse unto perdition.
The grieving of men is in their body, but the name of the impious will be wiped away.
Have concern for your good name. For this will continue with you, more so than a thousand precious and great treasures.
A good life has its number of days, but a good name will continue forever.
Sons, practice discipline peacefully. For what use is there in either concealed wisdom, or undiscovered treasure?
Better is the man who hides his foolishness than the man who hides his wisdom.
Yet truly, have respect for these things which proceed from my mouth.
For it is not good to observe every reverence. And all things do not please all persons in their beliefs.
Have shame of these things: of fornication before father and mother, and of a lie before the first leader and the powerful,
of a crime before a ruler or a judge, of iniquity before a congregation or a people,
of injustice before a companion or a friend, and of the place in which you live,
1O death, how bitter is the memory of you: to a man who has peace in his substance,
2to a quiet man, and to him whose ways are directed properly in all things, and who still has the strength to take nourishment.
3O death, your judgment is good to the indigent man, and to him whose strength has diminished,
4who is failing due to old age, and who is anxious about all things, and to the unbelieving man who has lost patience.
5Do not choose to dread the judgment of death. Remember the things that occurred before you, and the things that will occur after you. This judgment is from the Lord upon all flesh.
6And what will happen to you is well-pleasing to the Most High, whether in ten, or one hundred, or one thousand years.
7For death is no indictment of life.
8The sons of sinners, and those who pass their time in the manner of the houses of the impious, become sons of abominations.
9The inheritance of the sons of sinners will perish, and continual disgrace will be with their offspring.
10The sons of an impious father will complain, for they are in disgrace because of him.
11Woe to you, impious men, who have abandoned the law of the Most High Lord!
12And when you are born, you will be born into a curse; and when you die, your portion will be in a curse.
13All things that are from the earth shall return to the earth. Similarly, the impious will proceed from a curse unto perdition.
14The grieving of men is in their body, but the name of the impious will be wiped away.
15Have concern for your good name. For this will continue with you, more so than a thousand precious and great treasures.
16A good life has its number of days, but a good name will continue forever.
17Sons, practice discipline peacefully. For what use is there in either concealed wisdom, or undiscovered treasure?
18Better is the man who hides his foolishness than the man who hides his wisdom.
19Yet truly, have respect for these things which proceed from my mouth.
20For it is not good to observe every reverence. And all things do not please all persons in their beliefs.
21Have shame of these things: of fornication before father and mother, and of a lie before the first leader and the powerful,
22of a crime before a ruler or a judge, of iniquity before a congregation or a people,
23of injustice before a companion or a friend, and of the place in which you live,