Ecclesiasticus
Ecclesiasticus 42
Chapter XLII · Vol. III, p. 1575
1 Whereof we should not be ashamed. 9 Be careful of thy daughter. 12 Beware of a woman. 15 The works and greatness of God.
1 Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby:
2 Of the law of the Most High, and his covenant; and of judgment to justify the ungodly;
3 1Of reckoning with thy partners and 2travellers; or 3of the gift of the heritage of friends;
Before Christ about 200.
1 Or, Of thy partner's speech.
2 Or, companions.
3 Or, of the giving.
4 Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little;
5 And of merchants' 4indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.
4 Or, without profit.
6 Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where many hands are.
7 Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou 5givest out, or receivest in.
5 Or, dealest for.
8 Be not ashamed to 6inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged 7that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living.
6 Or, rebuke.
7 Or, that is accused of fornication.
9 The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:
10 In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father's house; and having a husband, lest she should mis-behave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.
11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughing-stock to thine enemies, and a by-word in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.
14 Better is the {}churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say,* which bringeth shame and reproach.
* Or, wickedness.
15 I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.
16 The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord.
17 The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is, might be established for his glory.
18 He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for †the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.
† Or, the Highest.
19 He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things.
20 ‡No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.
‡ Job 42. 2. Isa. 29. 15.
21 He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.
22 O how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark.
23 All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient.
24 All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.
25 One thing establisheth the good of another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?