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.
1Blessed 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 offense2Happy is he who does not have sadness in his mind, and who has not fallen away from his hope3Substance is senseless for a greedy and stingy man. And what would a spiteful man do with gold4Whoever acquires unjustly, according to his own mind, gathers for others. For another will spend his goods lavishly5Whoever is wicked to himself, to whom will he be good? For he will not take enjoyment in his own goods6Whoever has ill will toward himself, nothing is more worthless than he is. But such is the reward of his wickedness7And if he does good, he does it ignorantly and unwillingly. And in the very end, he realizes his own malice8The eye of the spiteful man is wicked, and he averts his face and despises his own soul9The 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 away10An 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 table11Son, if you have anything, do good to yourself, and offer worthy oblations to God12Remember 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 death13Do good to your friend before you die. And according to your ability, extend your hand and give to the poor14Do not cheat yourself out of a good day, and do not let the smallest good gift pass you by15Should you not leave it to others to divide your sorrows and labors by lot16Give, and receive, and justify your soul17Before your passing, accomplish justice. For in death, there is no food to be found18All flesh grows old like the grass, and like the foliage that springs forth from a green tree19Some spring up, and others fall away. Such is the generation of flesh and blood. One is finished, and another is born20Every corruptible work will fail in the end. And its worker will go with it21But every excellent work will be justified. And whoever worked it will be honored by it22Blessed 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 God23He 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 ways24He gazes through her windows, and he listens at her door25He 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 passes26He will station his sons under her covering, and he will abide under her branches27He will be protected by her covering from the heat, and he will rest in her glory
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