Sirach 14
A person who controls their words and emotions is blessed, while those consumed by greed and malice ultimately harm themselves. Those who acquire wealth unjustly will lose it to others, and the wicked will not enjoy their own possessions. In contrast, doing good and giving to others brings joy and justifies one's soul. One should prioritize kindness and generosity before death, as it is the only way to truly honor oneself. The pursuit of wisdom and righteousness brings lasting rewards, and those who abide in wisdom will find understanding and protection.
Blessed is the man who has not slipped because of a word from his mouth, and who has not been stung by grief because of an offenseHappy is he who does not have sadness in his mind, and who has not fallen away from his hopeSubstance is senseless for a greedy and stingy man. And what would a spiteful man do with goldWhoever acquires unjustly, according to his own mind, gathers for others. For another will spend his goods lavishlyWhoever is wicked to himself, to whom will he be good? For he will not take enjoyment in his own goodsWhoever has ill will toward himself, nothing is more worthless than he is. But such is the reward of his wickednessAnd if he does good, he does it ignorantly and unwillingly. And in the very end, he realizes his own maliceThe eye of the spiteful man is wicked, and he averts his face and despises his own soulThe eye of the greedy man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity. He will not be satisfied until he has consumed his own soul, withering it awayAn evil eye is directed at evil things. And he will not be satisfied by bread; instead, he will be needy and grieving at his own tableSon, if you have anything, do good to yourself, and offer worthy oblations to GodRemember that death has not been delayed, and that the covenant of the grave has been revealed to you. For the covenant of this world will pass away in deathDo good to your friend before you die. And according to your ability, extend your hand and give to the poorDo not cheat yourself out of a good day, and do not let the smallest good gift pass you byShould you not leave it to others to divide your sorrows and labors by lotGive, and receive, and justify your soulBefore your passing, accomplish justice. For in death, there is no food to be foundAll flesh grows old like the grass, and like the foliage that springs forth from a green treeSome spring up, and others fall away. Such is the generation of flesh and blood. One is finished, and another is bornEvery corruptible work will fail in the end. And its worker will go with itBut every excellent work will be justified. And whoever worked it will be honored by itBlessed is the man who will abide in wisdom, and who will meditate on her righteousness, and who, in his mind, will consider the circumspection of GodHe considers her ways in his heart, and he finds understanding in her secrets. He goes after her like an investigator, and he is constant in her waysHe gazes through her windows, and he listens at her doorHe rests next to her house, and, fastening a peg in her walls, he sets up his cottage by her hands. And so, good things will find rest in his cottage as time passesHe will station his sons under her covering, and he will abide under her branchesHe will be protected by her covering from the heat, and he will rest in her glory
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