Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 14
1If a person never says anything carelessly, he is to be congratulated; he doesn't need to feel guilty. 2If a person has a clear conscience and never gives up hope, he is certainly to be congratulated!
Responsible Use of Wealth
3It isn't right for someone who is selfish to be rich. What use is money to a stingy person? 4If you deny yourself in order to accumulate wealth, you are only accumulating it for someone else. Others will use your riches to live in luxury. 5How can you be generous with others if you are stingy with yourself, if you are not willing to enjoy your own wealth? 6No one is worse off than someone who is stingy with himself; it is a sin that brings its own punishment. 7When such a person does something good, it is only by accident; his selfishness will sooner or later be evident. 8A selfish person is evil; he turns his back on people's needs 9and is never satisfied with what he has. Greed will shrivel up a person's soul. 10Some people are too stingy to put bread on their own table.
11My child, treat yourself as well as you can, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord. 12Remember that death is coming for you some day, and you haven't been told when that will be. 13Before that day comes, be kind to your friends; be as generous as you can. 14Don't deny yourself a single day's happiness. If there is something you want to do and it is lawful, go ahead! 15Some day all that you have worked for will be divided up and given to others. 16So be generous; but also be willing to receive from others. Enjoy yourself, for you will not find any pleasures in the world of the dead. 17The human body wears out like a piece of clothing. The ancient law decrees that we must die. 18Human beings are like leaves on a spreading tree. New growth takes the place of the fallen leaves; while some of us die, others are being born. 19Everything made by human hands will decay and perish, along with the person who made it.
The Happiness of Having Wisdom
20It is a happy person who is concerned with Wisdom and who uses good sense. 21Anyone who studies the ways of Wisdom will also learn her secrets. 22Go after Wisdom like a hunter looking for game. 23Look into her windows and listen at her doors. 24Camp as close to her house as you can get, 25and you will have a fine place to live. 26-27Build your home there, safe beneath her protecting branches, and shaded from the heat.
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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