### Douay Rheims Bible

Sirach 17

## The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)

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| # Chapter 18
#### 1 | He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.
#### 2 | Who is able to declare his works?
#### 3 | For who shall search out his glorious acts?
#### 4 | And who shall shew forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be able to declare his mercy?
#### 5 | Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to find out the glorious works of God:
#### 6 | When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.
#### 7 | What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what is his evil?
#### 8 | The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years: as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.
#### 9 | Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
#### 10 | He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.
#### 11 | Therefore bath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shewn them the way of justice.
#### 12 | The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.
#### 13 | He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his hock.
#### 14 | He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.
#### 15 | My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.
#### 16 | Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is better than the gift.
#### 17 | Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a justified man.
#### 18 | A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught consumeth the eyes.
#### 19 | Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou speak.
#### 20 | Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.
#### 21 | Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness shew thy conversation.
#### 22 | Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.
#### 23 | Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.
#### 24 | Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.
#### 25 | Remember poverty is the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.
#### 26 | From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.
#### 27 | A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sine will beware of sloth.
#### 28 | Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.
#### 29 | They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth pro- verbs and judgments.
#### 30 | Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.
#### 31 | If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies.
#### 32 | Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: for their concertation is continual.
#### 33 | Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when thou hast nothing in thy purse : for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own life.

Sirach 19

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