Sirach Chapter 18

English (Douay-Rheims)

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 show 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. Then shall he begin... God is so great and incomprehensible, that when man has done all that he can to find out his greatness and boundless perfections, he is still to begin: for what he has found out, is but a mere nothing in comparison with his infinity.
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 hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shown 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 flock.
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 show 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 in 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 sins 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 proverbs 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.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Qui vivet in æternum creavit omnia simul.
Deus solus justificabitur,
et manet invictus rex in æternum.
2 Quis sufficit enarrare opera illius?
3 quis enim investigabit magnalia ejus?
4 virtutem autem magnitudinis ejus quis enuntiabit?
aut quis adjiciet enarrare misericordiam ejus?
5 Non est minuere neque adjicere,
nec est invenire magnalia Dei.
6 Cum consummaverit homo, tunc incipiet:
et cum quieverit, aporiabitur.
7 Quid est homo? et quæ est gratia illius?
et quid bonum aut quid nequam illius?
8 Numerus dierum hominum, ut multum centum anni,
quasi gutta aquæ maris deputati sunt:
et sicut calculus arenæ, sic exigui anni in die ævi.
9 Propter hoc patiens est Deus in illis,
et effundit super eos misericordiam suam.
10 Vidit præsumptionem cordis eorum, quoniam mala est:
et cognovit subversionem illorum, quoniam nequam est.
11 Ideo adimplevit propitiationem suam in illis,
et ostendit eis viam æquitatis.
12 Miseratio hominis circa proximum suum:
misericordia autem Dei super omnem carnem.
13 Qui misericordiam habet, docet et erudit
quasi pastor gregem suum.
14 Miseretur excipientis doctrinam miserationis,
et qui festinat in judiciis ejus.

15 Fili, in bonis non des querelam,
et in omni dato non des tristitiam verbi mali.
16 Nonne ardorem refrigerabit ros?
sic et verbum melius quam datum.
17 Nonne ecce verbum super datum bonum?
sed utraque cum homine justificato.
18 Stultus acriter improperabit:
et datus indisciplinati tabescere facit oculos.
19 Ante judicium para justitiam tibi,
et antequam loquaris, disce.
20 Ante languorem adhibe medicinam:
et ante judicium interroga teipsum,
et in conspectu Dei invenies propitiationem.
21 Ante languorem humilia te,
et in tempore infirmitatis ostende conversationem tuam.
22 Non impediaris orare semper,
et ne verearis usque ad mortem justificari,
quoniam merces Dei manet in æternum.
23 Ante orationem præpara animam tuam,
et noli esse quasi homo qui tentat Deum.
24 Memento iræ in die consummationis,
et tempus retributionis in conversatione faciei.
25 Memento paupertatis in tempore abundantiæ,
et necessitatum paupertatis in die divitiarum.
26 A mane usque ad vesperam immutabitur tempus,
et hæc omnia citata in oculis Dei.
27 Homo sapiens in omnibus metuet,
et in diebus delictorum attendet ab inertia.
28 Omnis astutus agnoscit sapientiam,
et invenienti eam dabit confessionem.
29 Sensati in verbis et ipsi sapienter egerunt,
et intellexerunt veritatem et justitiam,
et impleverunt proverbia et judicia.

30 Post concupiscentias tuas non eas,
et a voluntate tua avertere.
31 Si præstes animæ tuæ concupiscentias ejus,
faciat te in gaudium inimicis tuis.
32 Ne oblecteris in turbis nec in modicis:
assidua enim est commissio illorum.
33 Ne fueris mediocris in contentione ex fœnore,
et est tibi nihil in sacculo:
eris enim invidus vitæ tuæ.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition

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