Sirach 18

1 The one who lives forever created everything together.

2 The Lord alone will be shown righteous.

3 He governs the world in the palm of his hand, and everything obeys his will. He is king over all, separating holy things from ordinary things by his power.

4 He has enabled no one to announce his works. Who can trace the full extent of his great deeds?

5 Who can number the strength of his greatness? Who can add anything to the account of his mercies?

6 Nothing can be taken from or added to the Lord’s wondrous works, and no one can fully fathom them.

7 When someone reaches the end, he has only begun; when he stops, he remains perplexed.

8 What are human beings, and what purpose do they serve? What is good in them, and what is evil?

9 The number of a person’s days is at most one hundred years.

10 Like a drop of water from the sea or a grain of sand, so are a few years within a day of eternity.

11 Therefore the Lord is patient with them and pours out his mercy on them.

12 He saw and understood that their end was evil; therefore he multiplied his atonement.

13 Human mercy reaches a neighbor, but the Lord’s mercy reaches all flesh. He corrects, disciplines, teaches, and brings people back, like a shepherd with his flock.

14 He has mercy on those who welcome discipline and eagerly pursue his judgments.

15 My child, do not mar your good deeds or accompany any gift with hurtful words.

16 Does not dew relieve the heat? In the same way, a kind word is better than a gift.

17 Indeed, is not a kind word better than a good gift? Both are found in a person who enjoys favor.

18 A fool reproaches without gratitude, and an envious person’s gift makes the eyes waste away.

19 Learn before you speak, and use medicine before you are sick.

20 Examine yourself before judgment, and when he calls you to account you will find atonement.

21 Humble yourself before you become sick, and in a time of sins show that you have turned back.

22 Do not let anything prevent you from fulfilling a vow promptly, and do not wait until death to be found righteous.

23 Prepare yourself before you pray, and do not act like someone testing the Lord.

24 Remember the wrath in the final days and the time of vengeance when God turns his face away.

25 In a time of plenty, remember a time of hunger; in days of wealth, remember poverty and need.

26 From morning to evening the time changes, and all things move swiftly before the Lord.

27 A wise person will be cautious in everything and will guard against offense in days of sin.

28 Every understanding person recognizes wisdom and will thank the one who found her.

29 Those who understood sayings became wise themselves and poured out precise proverbs.

30 Do not follow your desires; restrain yourself from your appetites.

31 If you grant your soul what its desires crave, it will make you a laughingstock to your enemies.

32 Do not delight in lavish feasting or become liable for its expense.

33 Do not make yourself poor by borrowing for shared banquets when your purse is empty.