Ecclesiasticus
Ecclesiasticus 33
Chapter XXXIII · Vol. III, p. 1571
1 The safety of him that feareth the Lord. 2 The wise and the foolish. 7 Times and seasons are of God. 10 Men are in his hands as clay in the hands of the potter.
1 1There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; 2but in temptation even again he will deliver them.
2 A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is a hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
3 A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, 3as an oracle.
3 Or, as the asking of Urim.
4 Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
5 The 4heart of the 5foolish is like a cart-wheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axle-tree.
4 Gr. bowels.
5 ch. 21. 14, 16.
6 A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
7 Why doth one day excel another, when as 6all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
6 Gen. 1. 16.
8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered 7seasons and feasts.
7 Gen. 1. 14.
9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he 8made ordinary days.
8 Or, ordained for the number of days.
10 And all men are from the ground, and 9Adam was created of earth.
9 Gen. 1. 27. & 2. 7.
11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
12 *Some of them hath he blessed and exalted, and some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their †places.
* Rom. 9. 21.
† Or, standings.
13 ‡As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure; so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
14 ||Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
|| Deut. 30. 15.
15 So look upon all the works of the Most High; and there are 1two and two, one against another.
1 ch. 42. 24.
16 I awaked up last of all, as one that 2gathereth after the grape gatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my wine-press like a gatherer of grapes.
2 Or, gleaneth.
18 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, 4ye rulers of the congregation.
4 Ps. 2. 1.
19 Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou entreat for the same again.
21 For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest 6stand to their courtesy.
6 Or, look to their hands.
22 In all thy works keep to thyself the pre-eminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.
23 At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, 7distribute thine inheritance.
7 Isa. 38. 1. Of servants.
24 Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
25 If 8thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
8 ver. 28.
26 A yoke and a collar do bow the neck; so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
27 Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.
28 Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on 9more heavy fetters.
9 ver. 24, 26.
29 But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.