Sirach 41

1 Death, how bitter the thought of you is to someone living peacefully among his possessions, free from distraction, prosperous in everything, and still strong enough to enjoy food! 2 Death, how welcome your sentence is to someone in need, whose strength is failing, who is extremely old, troubled by everything, rebellious, and out of patience! 3 Do not fear death’s sentence. Remember those who came before you and those who will come after you. This is the Lord’s sentence for all flesh. 4 Why resist the will of the Most High? Whether you live ten, a hundred, or a thousand years, no one in Hades will question the length of your life. [a]

5 The children of sinners become detestable children, companions of those who live among the ungodly. 6 The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish, and lasting disgrace will remain with their descendants. 7 Children will blame an ungodly father, because they are disgraced because of him. 8 Woe to you, ungodly people, who have abandoned the law of God Most High! 9 If you are born, you are born under a curse, and if you die, a curse will be your share. 10 Everything from the earth will return to the earth; in the same way, the ungodly go from curse to destruction.

11 People mourn over the bodies of the dead, but the bad name of sinners will be erased. 12 Take care of your name, for it will remain with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold. 13 A good life lasts a numbered span of days, but a good name remains forever. 14 My children, preserve instruction in peace. What good are hidden wisdom and an unseen treasure? 15 Someone who hides his foolishness is better than someone who hides his wisdom. 16 Therefore show proper shame according to my word. It is not good to preserve every kind of shame, and not everything is approved by everyone in good faith.

17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, and of a lie before a leader or ruler; 18 of an offense before a judge or governor, and of lawlessness before an assembly or the people; 19 of wrongdoing before a partner or friend, of theft where you live, of violating God’s truth and covenant, of leaning your elbow on the bread, of contempt when giving or receiving, and of silence toward those who greet you; 20 of looking at a prostitute and of turning your face away from a relative; 21 of taking away someone’s share or gift and of staring at a married woman; 22 of meddling with another man’s servant girl—do not approach her bed—and of insulting words before friends. After giving a gift, do not reproach anyone with it.