Sirach Chapter 40

The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother's womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.
2 Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of things to come, and the day of their end:
3 From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes:
4 From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,
5 And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changeth his knowledge.
6 A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.
7 He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear.
8 Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold more.
9 Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:
10 All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

11 All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.
12 All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.
13 The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.
14 While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.
15 The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.
16 The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, shall be pulled up before all grass.

17 Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.
18 The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.
19 Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.
21 The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.
22 Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.
23 A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.
24 Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.
25 Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.
26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the fear of the Lord.
27 There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek for help.
28 The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.

29 My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want.
30 The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man's meat.
31 But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.
32 Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

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 Occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus,
et jugum grave super filios Adam,
a die exitus de ventre matris eorum
usque in diem sepulturæ in matrem omnium.
2 Cogitationes eorum, et timores cordis,
adinventio exspectationis, et dies finitionis,
3 a residente super sedem gloriosam,
usque ad humiliatum in terra et cinere:
4 ab eo qui utitur hyacintho et portat coronam,
usque ad eum qui operitur lino crudo:
furor, zelus, tumultus, fluctuatio, et timor mortis,
iracundia perseverans, et contentio:
5 et in tempore refectionis in cubili,
somnus noctis immutat scientiam ejus.
6 Modicum tamquam nihil in requie,
et ab eo in somnis, quasi in die respectus.
7 Conturbatus est in visu cordis sui,
tamquam qui evaserit in die belli:
in tempore salutis suæ exsurrexit,
et admirans ad nullum timorem:
8 cum omni carne, ab homine usque ad pecus,
et super peccatores septuplum.
9 Ad hæc mors, sanguis, contentio, et rhomphæa,
oppressiones, fames, et contritio, et flagella:
10 super iniquos creata sunt hæc omnia:
et propter illos factus est cataclysmus.

11 Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur,
et omnes aquæ in mare revertentur.
12 Omne munus et iniquitas delebitur,
et fides in sæculum stabit.
13 Substantiæ injustorum sicut fluvius siccabuntur,
et sicut tonitruum magnum in pluvia personabunt.
14 In aperiendo manus suas lætabitur:
sic prævaricatores in consummatione tabescent.
15 Nepotes impiorum non multiplicabunt ramos:
et radices immundæ super cacumen petræ sonant.
16 Super omnem aquam viriditas,
et ad oram fluminis ante omne fœnum evelletur.

17 Gratia sicut paradisus in benedictionibus,
et misericordia in sæculum permanet.
18 Vita sibi sufficientis operarii condulcabitur,
et in ea invenies thesaurum.
19 Filii et ædificatio civitatis confirmabit nomen:
et super hæc mulier immaculata computabitur.
20 Vinum et musica lætificant cor:
et super utraque dilectio sapientiæ.
21 Tibiæ et psalterium suavem faciunt melodiam:
et super utraque lingua suavis.
22 Gratiam et speciem desiderabit oculus tuus:
et super hæc virides sationes.
23 Amicus et sodalis in tempore convenientes,
et super utrosque mulier cum viro.
24 Fratres in adjutorium in tempore tribulationis:
et super eos misericordia liberabit.
25 Aurum et argentum est constitutio pedum:
et super utrumque consilium beneplacitum.
26 Facultates et virtutes exaltant cor,
et super hæc timor Domini.
27 Non est in timore Domini minoratio:
et non est in eo inquirere adjutorium.
28 Timor Domini sicut paradisus benedictionis,
et super omnem gloriam operuerunt illum.

29 Fili, in tempore vitæ tuæ ne indigeas:
melius est enim mori quam indigere.
30 Vir respiciens in mensam alienam,
non est vita ejus in cogitatione victus:
alit enim animam suam cibis alienis:
31 vir autem disciplinatus et eruditus custodiet se.
32 In ore imprudentis condulcabitur inopia,
et in ventre ejus ignis ardebit.

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