THE WISDOME OF Iesus the sonne of Sirach, Or Ecclesiasticus.
Introductory matter
A Prologue made by an vncertaine Authour.
This Iesus was the sonne of Sirach, and grand-childe to Iesus of the same name with him; This man therefore liued in the latter times, after the people had bene led away captiue, and called home againe, and almost after all the Prophets. [ Note: Some referre this Prologue to Athanasius, because it is found in his Synopsis.] Now his grandfather Iesus (as he himselfe witnesseth) was a man of great diligence and wisedome among the Hebrewes, who did not onely gather the graue and short Sentences of wise men, that had bene before him, but himselfe also vttered some of his owne, full of much vnderstanding and wisedome. When as therefore the first Iesus died, leauing this booke almost [ Note: Or, collected.] perfected, Sirach his sonne receiuing it after him, left it to his owne sonne Iesus, who hauing gotten it into his hands, compiled it all orderly into one Uolume, and called it Wisdome, Intituling it, both by his owne name, his fathers name, and his grandfathers, alluring the hearer by the very name of Wisedome, to haue a greater loue to the studie of this Booke. It conteineth therefore wise Sayings, darke Sentences, and Parables, and certaine particular ancient godly stories of men that pleased God. Also his Prayer and Song. Moreouer, what benefits God had vouchsafed his people, and what plagues he had heaped vpon their enemies. This Iesus did imitate Solomon, and was no lesse famous for Wisedome, and learning, both being indeed a man of great learning, and so reputed also.
The Prologue of the Wisdome of Iesus the sonne of Sirach.
Whereas many and great things haue bene deliuered vnto vs by the Law and the Prophets, and by others that haue followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and Wisedome, and whereof not onely the Readers must needs become skilful themselues, but also they that desire to learne, be able to profit them which are [ Note: Or, of an other nation.] without, both by speaking and writing: My grandfather Iesus, when he had much giuen himselfe to the reading of the Law, and the Prophets, and other Bookes of our fathers, and had gotten therein good iudgement, was drawen on also himselfe, to write something pertayning to learning and Wisedome, to the intent that those which are desirous to learne, and are addicted to these things, might profit much more in liuing according to the Law. Wherefore, let me intreat you to reade it with fauour and attention, and to pardon Us, wherein wee may seeme to come short of some words which we haue laboured to interprete. For the same things vttered in Hebrew, and translated into an other tongue, haue not the same force in them: and not onely these things, but the Law it selfe, and the [ Note: Greek: prophecies.] Prophets, and the rest of the Bookes, haue no small [ Note: Or, excellencie.] difference, when they are spoken in their owne language. For in the eight and thirtieth yeere coming into Egypt, when Euergetes was King, and continuing there sometime, I found a [ Note: Or, helpe of learning.] Booke of no small learning, therefore I thought it most necessary for mee, to bestow some diligence and trauaile to interprete it: Using great watchfulnesse, and skill in that space, to bring the Booke to an end, and set it foorth for them also, which in a strange countrey are willing to learne, being prepared before in maners to liue after the Law.
Eclesiástico 23,1-28
Chapter XXIII.
1 A prayer for grace to flee sinne. 9 We may not vse swearing: 14 But remember our parents. 16 Of three sorts of sinne. 23 The adultresse wife sinneth many waies.
1 O Lord, father and gouernour of all my whole life, leaue me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them.
2 Who will set scourges ouer my thoughts, and the discipline of wisedome ouer mine heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances and it passe not by my sinnes:
3 Least mine ignorances increase, and my sinnes abound to my destruction, and I fall before mine aduersaries, and mine enemie reioyce ouer mee, whose hope is farre from thy mercy.
4 O Lord, father and God of my life, giue me not a proud looke, but turne away from thy seruants alwaies a [ Or, a giant like.] haughty minde:
5 Turne away from mee vaine hopes, and concupiscence, and thou shalt hold him vp that is desirous alwaies to serue thee.
6 Let not the greedinesse of the belly, nor lust of the flesh take hold of me, and giue not ouer me thy seruant into an impudent minde.
7 Heare, O yee children, the discipline of the mouth: He that keepeth it, shall neuer be taken in his lippes.
8 The sinner shall be left in his foolishnesse: both the euill speaker and the proud shall fall thereby.
9 [ Exo_20:7; Sirach 27.15; Math.5.33.] Accustome not thy mouth to swearing: neither vse thy selfe to the naming of the holy one.
10 For as a seruant that is continually beaten, shall not be without a blew marke: so hee that sweareth and nameth God continually, shal not be faultlesse.
11 A man that vseth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall neuer depart from his house: If he shall offend, his sinne shall be vpon him: and if he acknowledge not his sinne, hee maketh a double offence, and if he sweare in vaine, he shall not be [ Greek: iustified.] innocent, but his house shall be full of calamities.
12 There is a word that is clothed about with death: God graunt that it be not found in the heritage of Iacob, for all such things shall be farre from the godly, and they shall not wallow in their sinnes.
13 Use not thy mouth to vntemperate swearing, for therein is the word of sinne.
14 Remember thy father and thy mother, when thou sittest among great men. Be not forgetfull before them, and so thou by thy custome become a foole, and wish that thou hadst not beene borne, and curse the day of thy natiuitie.
15 [ 2Sa_16:17.] The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will neuer be reformed all the daies of his life.
16 Two sorts of men multiply sinne, and the third will bring wrath: a hot minde is as a burning fire, it will neuer be quenched till it be consumed: a fornicatour in the body of his flesh, will neuer cease till he hath kindled a fire.
17 [ Pro_9:17.] All bread is sweete to a whoremonger, he will not leaue off till he die.
18 A man that breaketh wedlocke, saying thus in his heart, [ Isa_29:15; Job_24:15.] Who seeth me? I am compassed about with darknesse: the walles couer me; & no body seeth me, what neede I to feare? The most high wil not remember my sinnes:
19 Such a man only feareth the eies of men, and knoweth not that the eies of the Lord are tenne thousand times brighter then the Sunne, beholding all the waies of men, and considering the most secret parts.
20 He knew all things ere euer they were created, so also after they were perfited, he looked vpon them all:
21 [ Lev_20:10; Deu_22:22.] This man shall bee punished in the streets of the citie, and where he suspecteth not, he shall be taken.
22 Thus shall it goe also with the wife, that leaueth her husband, and bringeth in an heire by [ Or, a stranger.] another:
23 For [ Exo_20:14.] first she hath disobeyed the Law of the most High: and secondly, she hath trespassed against her owne husband, and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man.
24 Shee shall be brought out into the congregation, and [ Or, visitation.] inquisition shalbe made of her children.
25 Her [ Wis_4:3.] children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring foorth no fruit.
26 She shall leaue her memorie to be cursed, and her reproch shall not be blotted out.
27 And they that remaine, shall know that there is nothing better then the feare of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter then to take heed vnto the Commandement of the Lord.
28 It is great glory to follow the Lord, & to be receiued of him is long life.