|
[1] O DEATH, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath peace in his possessions!
[2] To a man that is at rest, and whose ways are prosperous in all things, and that is yet able to take meat!
[3] O death, thy sentence is welcome to the man that is in need, and to him whose strength faileth:
[4] Who is in a decrepit age, and that is in care about all things, and to the distrustful that loseth patience!
[5] Fear not the sentence of death. Remember what things have been before thee, and what shall come after thee: this sentence is from the Lord upon all flesh.
[6] And what shall come upon thee by the good pleasure of the most High? whether ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years.
[7] For among the dead there is no accusing of life.
[8] The children of sinners become children of abominations, and they that converse near the houses of the ungodly.
[9] The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
[10] The children will complain of an ungodly father, because for his sake they are in reproach.
[11] Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the most high Lord.
[12] And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and if you die, in malediction shall be your portion.
[13] All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: so the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction.
[14] The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the ungodly shall be blotted out.
[15] Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, more than a thousand treasures precious and great.
[16] A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall continue for ever.
[17] My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both?
[18] Better is the man that hideth his folly, then the man that hideth his wisdom.
[19] Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to speak of.
[20] For it is not good to keep all shamefacedness: and all things do not please all men in opinion.
[21] Be ashamed of fornication before father and mother: and of a lie before a governor and a man in power:
[22] Of an offence before a prince, and a judge: of iniquity before a congregation and a people:
[23] Of injustice before a companion and friend: and in regard to the place where thou dwellest,
[24] Of theft, and of the truth of God, and the covenant: of leaning with thy elbow over meat, and of deceit in giving and taking:
[25] Of silence before them that salute thee: of looking upon a harlot: and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman.
[26] Turn not sway thy face from thy neighbour, and of taking away a portion and not restoring.
[27] Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.
[28] Be ashamed of upbraiding speeches before friends: and after thou hast given, upbraid not.
|