Ecclesiasticus 14:1-27
[1]Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
[2]Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.
[3]Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?
[4]He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.
[5]He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
[6]There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
[7]And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.
[8]The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
[9]A covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.
[10]A wicked eye envieth his bread, and he is a niggard at his table.
[11]My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.
[12]Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
[13]Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
[14]Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.
[15]Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?
[16]Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
[17]All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
[18]As 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.
[19]Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.
[20]Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.
[21]He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.
[22]Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
[23]He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
[24]He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
[25]He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
[26]He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.
[27]By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.
