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Sirach 14

1Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
1Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth, and doesn’t suffer from sorrow for sins.
2Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.
2Blessed is he whose soul does not condemn him, and who has not given up hope.
3Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?
3Riches are not appropriate for a stingy person. What would a miser do with money?
4He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.
4He who gathers by denying himself gathers for others. Others will revel in his goods.
5He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
5If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good? He won’t enjoy his possessions.
6There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
6There is none more evil than he who is grudging to himself. This is a punishment for his wickedness.
7And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.
7Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness. In the end, he reveals his wickedness.
8The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
8A miser is evil. He turns away and disregards souls.
9A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.
9A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion. Wicked injustice dries up his soul.
10A wicked eye envieth his bread, and he is a niggard at his table.
10A miser begrudges bread, and it is lacking at his table.
11My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.
11My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord.
12Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
12Remember that death will not wait, and that the covenant of Hades hasn’t been shown to you.
13Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
13Do good to your friends before you die. According to your ability, reach out and give to them.
14Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.
14Don’t deprive yourself of a good day. Don’t let your share of a desired good pass you by.
15Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?
15Won’t you leave your labors to another, and your toils be divided by lot?
16Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
16Give, take, and treat yourself well, because there is no seeking of luxury in Hades.
17All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
17All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!”
18As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
18Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheds, and some grow, so also are the generations of flesh and blood: one comes to an end and another is born.
19Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.
19Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it.
20Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.
20Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom, and who reasons by his understanding.
21He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.
21He who considers her ways in his heart will also have knowledge of her secrets.
22Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
22Go after her like a hunter, and lie in wait in her paths.
23He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
23He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors.
24He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
24He who lodges close to her house will also fasten a nail in her walls.
25He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
25He will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will lodge in a lodging where good things are.
26He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.
26He will set his children under her shelter, and will rest under her branches.
27By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.
27By her he will be covered from heat, and will lodge in her glory.