Sirach
As found in the Greek Septuagint
GNB
Chapter 41
Sirach 41:1 Death! The very thought of it is bitter to someone who is prosperous, living peacefully with his possessions, free of worries, and still able to enjoy his food.
Sirach 41:2 Death! its sentence is welcome to someone living in poverty, with failing health, very old, burdened with worries, blind, and without hope.
Sirach 41:3 Do not be afraid of death's decree. Remember that it came to those before you and will come to those after you.
Sirach 41:4 The Lord has decreed it for every living creature. Who are you to object to what the Most High wishes? In the world of the dead no one will care whether you lived ten years, a hundred, or a thousand.
Sirach 41:5 The children of sinners, brought up in ungodly surroundings, turn out to be hateful people.
Sirach 41:6 They will lose whatever they inherit, and their own descendants will live in permanent disgrace.
Sirach 41:7 The children will put the blame for their disgrace on their ungodly parents.
Sirach 41:8 You are doomed, you irreligious people who have abandoned the Law of the Most High God.
Sirach 41:9 When you have children, disaster will strike them and you will be left with nothing but sorrow. There will be great joy whenever you stumble, and even after your death you will be cursed.
Sirach 41:10 What comes into being from nothing will return to nothing; so it will be with the godless, doomed to extinction.
Sirach 41:11 A person's body amounts to nothing, but a good reputation will last forever.
Sirach 41:12 Protect your reputation; it will outlive you and last longer than a thousand treasures of gold.
Sirach 41:13 A good life lasts only so long, but a good reputation will last forever.
Sirach 41:14 My children, do as I teach you and live at peace. Wisdom that is not expressed is like a treasure that has been hidden-both are useless.
Sirach 41:15 A person who covers up his foolishness is better than one who keeps his wisdom to himself.
Sirach 41:16 My children, listen and I will teach you the circumstances when it is proper to be ashamed. Sometimes it is entirely out of place.
Sirach 41:17 Before your
parents, be ashamed of immoral behavior.
Before a ruler or an important person, be ashamed of a lie.
Sirach 41:18 Before a
judge, be ashamed of criminal behavior.
Before a public assembly, be ashamed of breaking a law.
Before a friend or partner, be ashamed of dishonesty.
Sirach
41:19 Before your neighbors, be ashamed of theft.
Be ashamed of breaking a promise,
of leaning on the dinner table with
your elbows,
of stinginess when you are asked for
something,
Sirach
41:20 of not returning a greeting,
of staring at a prostitute,
Sirach
41:21 of turning down a relative's request,
of depriving someone of what is
rightly his,
of staring at another man's wife,
Sirach
41:22 of playing around with his slave woman (keep away from her bed!)
of insulting your friends,
of following up your gifts with
criticism,
Sirach
41:23 of betraying secrets.
These are times when it is proper for you to be ashamed, and people will respect
you for it.