Sirach 41 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] O death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions,
to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things,
and who still has strength to enjoy food!
[2] O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength,
who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things,
is perverse, and has lost patience!
[3] Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death.
Remember those who have been before you and who come after.
This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh.
[4] And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High?
Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years,
there is no inquiry about life in Hades.§ [5] The children of sinners are abominable children
and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.
[6] The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish
and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace.
[7] Children will complain of an ungodly father,
because they suffer disgrace because of him.
[8] Woe to you, ungodly men,
who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!ⓘ
[9] If you are born, you will be born to a curse.
If you die, a curse will be your portion.
[10] All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth;
so the ungodly will go from a curse to perdition. [11] The mourning of men is about their bodies;
but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
[12] Have regard for your name,
for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.
[13] A good life has its number of days,
but a good name continues forever. [14] My children, follow instruction in peace.
But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is not seen,
what benefit is in them both?
[15] Better is a man who hides his foolishness
than a man who hides his wisdom.
[16] Therefore show respect for my words;
for it is not good to retain every kind of shame.
Not everything is approved by all in good faith. [17] Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother,
of a lie before a prince and a mighty man,
[18] of an offense before a judge and ruler,
of iniquity before the congregation and the people,
of unjust dealing before a partner and friend,
[19] and of theft in the place where you sojourn.
Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God and his covenant,
of leaning on your elbow at dinner,
of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking,
[20] of silence before those who greet you,
of looking at a woman who is a prostitute,
[21] of turning away your face from a kinsman,
of taking away a portion or a gift,
of gazing at a woman who has a husband,
[22] of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed,
of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult,
[23] of repeating and speaking what you have heard,
and of revealing of secrets.
[24] So you will be ashamed of the right things
and find favor in the sight of every man.
to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things,
and who still has strength to enjoy food!
[2] O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength,
who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things,
is perverse, and has lost patience!
[3] Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death.
Remember those who have been before you and who come after.
This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh.
[4] And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High?
Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years,
there is no inquiry about life in Hades.§ [5] The children of sinners are abominable children
and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.
[6] The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish
and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace.
[7] Children will complain of an ungodly father,
because they suffer disgrace because of him.
[8] Woe to you, ungodly men,
who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!ⓘ
[9] If you are born, you will be born to a curse.
If you die, a curse will be your portion.
[10] All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth;
so the ungodly will go from a curse to perdition. [11] The mourning of men is about their bodies;
but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
[12] Have regard for your name,
for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.
[13] A good life has its number of days,
but a good name continues forever. [14] My children, follow instruction in peace.
But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is not seen,
what benefit is in them both?
[15] Better is a man who hides his foolishness
than a man who hides his wisdom.
[16] Therefore show respect for my words;
for it is not good to retain every kind of shame.
Not everything is approved by all in good faith. [17] Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother,
of a lie before a prince and a mighty man,
[18] of an offense before a judge and ruler,
of iniquity before the congregation and the people,
of unjust dealing before a partner and friend,
[19] and of theft in the place where you sojourn.
Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God and his covenant,
of leaning on your elbow at dinner,
of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking,
[20] of silence before those who greet you,
of looking at a woman who is a prostitute,
[21] of turning away your face from a kinsman,
of taking away a portion or a gift,
of gazing at a woman who has a husband,
[22] of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed,
of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult,
[23] of repeating and speaking what you have heard,
and of revealing of secrets.
[24] So you will be ashamed of the right things
and find favor in the sight of every man.
Footnotes
- § 41:4 or, the place of the dead or, Sheol
- ⓘ 41:8 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
King James Version
Book not available in King James Version
Septuaginta
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament
[1] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) θάνατε, G2288 (N-VSM) ὡς G5613 (ADV) πικρόν G4089 (A-NSN) σου G4675 (P-2GS) τὸ G3588 (T-NSN) μνημόσυνόν G3422 (N-NSN) ἐστιν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) ἀνθρώπῳ G444 (N-DSM) εἰρηνεύοντι G1514 (V-PAP-DSM) ἐν G1722 (PREP) τοῖς G3588 (T-DPN) ὑπάρχουσιν G5225 (V-PAI-3P) αὐτοῦ, G846 (P-GSM) ἀνδρὶ G435 (N-DSM) ἀπερισπάστῳ (A-DSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) εὐοδουμένῳ G2137 (V-PEP-DSM) ἐν G1722 (PREP) πᾶσιν G3956 (A-DPN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἔτι G2089 (ADV) ἰσχύοντι G2480 (V-PAP-DSM) ἐπιδέξασθαι G1926 (V-AMN) τροφήν. G5160 (N-ASF) [2] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) θάνατε, G2288 (N-VSM) καλόν G2570 (A-NSN) σου G4675 (P-2GS) τὸ G3588 (T-NSN) κρίμα G2917 (N-NSN) ἐστὶν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) ἀνθρώπῳ G444 (N-DSM) ἐπιδεομένῳ (V-PEP-DSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐλασσουμένῳ G1642 (V-PMP-DSM) ἰσχύι, G2479 (N-DSF) ἐσχατογήρῳ (A-DSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) περισπωμένῳ G4049 (V-PEP-DSM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) πάντων G3956 (A-GPN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπειθοῦντι G544 (V-PAP-DSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπολωλεκότι G622 (V-RAP-DSM) ὑπομονήν. G5281 (N-ASF) [3] Μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) εὐλαβοῦ G2125 (V-PEM-2S) κρίμα G2917 (N-ASN) θανάτου, G2288 (N-GSM) μνήσθητι G3415 (V-APM-2S) προτέρων (A-GPN) σου G4675 (P-2GS) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐσχάτων· G2078 (A-GPN-S) [4] τοῦτο G5124 (D-NSN) τὸ G3588 (T-NSN) κρίμα G2917 (N-NSN) παρὰ G3844 (PREP) κυρίου G2962 (N-GSM) πάσῃ G3956 (A-DSF) σαρκί, G4561 (N-DSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τί G5101 (I-ASN) ἀπαναίνῃ (V-PAS-3S) ἐν G1722 (PREP) εὐδοκίᾳ G2107 (N-DSF) ὑψίστου; G5310 (A-GSM-S) Εἴτε G1535 (CONJ) δέκα G1176 (A-NUI) εἴτε G1535 (CONJ) ἑκατὸν G1540 (A-NUI) εἴτε G1535 (CONJ) χίλια G5507 (A-NPN) ἔτη, G2094 (N-NPN) οὐκ G3756 (PRT-N) ἔστιν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) ἐν G1722 (PREP) ᾅδου G86 (N-GSM) ἐλεγμὸς (N-NSM) ζωῆς. G2222 (N-GSF) [5] Τέκνα G5043 (N-NPN) βδελυρὰ (A-NPN) γίνεται G1096 (V-PNI-3S) τέκνα G5043 (N-NPN) ἁμαρτωλῶν G268 (A-GPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) συναναστρεφόμενα (V-PMP-NPN) παροικίαις G3940 (N-DPF) ἀσεβῶν· G765 (A-GPM) [6] τέκνων G5043 (N-GPN) ἁμαρτωλῶν G268 (A-GPM) ἀπολεῖται G622 (V-2FMI-3S) κληρονομία, G2817 (N-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μετὰ G3326 (PREP) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSN) σπέρματος G4690 (N-GSN) αὐτῶν G846 (P-GPM) ἐνδελεχιεῖ (V-FAI-3S) ὄνειδος. G3681 (N-ASN) [7] Πατρὶ G3962 (N-DSM) ἀσεβεῖ G765 (A-DSM) μέμψεται G3201 (V-FMI-3S) τέκνα, G5043 (N-NPN) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) δι’ G1223 (PREP) αὐτὸν G846 (P-ASM) ὀνειδισθήσονται. G3679 (V-FPI-3P) [8] Οὐαὶ G3759 (INJ) ὑμῖν, G5213 (P-2DP) ἄνδρες G435 (N-NPM) ἀσεβεῖς, G765 (A-NPM) οἵτινες G3748 (R-NPM) ἐγκατελίπετε G1459 (V-2AAI-2P) νόμον G3551 (N-ASM) θεοῦ G2316 (N-GSM) ὑψίστου· G5310 (A-GSM-S) [9] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐὰν G1437 (COND) γεννηθῆτε, G1080 (V-APS-2P) εἰς G1519 (PREP) κατάραν G2671 (N-ASF) γεννηθήσεσθε, G1080 (V-FPI-2P) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐὰν G1437 (COND) ἀποθάνητε, G599 (V-2AAS-2P) εἰς G1519 (PREP) κατάραν G2671 (N-ASF) μερισθήσεσθε. G3307 (V-FPI-2P) [10] Πάντα, G3956 (A-NPN) ὅσα G3745 (K-NPN) ἐκ G1537 (PREP) γῆς, G1093 (N-GSF) εἰς G1519 (PREP) γῆν G1093 (N-ASF) ἀπελεύσεται, G565 (V-FMI-3S) οὕτως G3779 (ADV) ἀσεβεῖς G765 (A-NPM) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) κατάρας G2671 (N-GSF) εἰς G1519 (PREP) ἀπώλειαν. G684 (N-ASF) [11] Πένθος G3997 (N-NSN) ἀνθρώπων G444 (N-GPM) ἐν G1722 (PREP) σώμασιν G4983 (N-DPN) αὐτῶν, G846 (P-GPM) ὄνομα G3686 (N-ASN) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ἁμαρτωλῶν G268 (A-GPM) οὐκ G3756 (PRT-N) ἀγαθὸν G18 (A-ASN) ἐξαλειφθήσεται. G1813 (V-FPI-3S) [12] Φρόντισον G5431 (V-AAM-2S) περὶ G4012 (PREP) ὀνόματος, G3686 (N-GSN) αὐτὸ G846 (P-NSN) γάρ G1063 (CONJ) σοι G4671 (P-2DS) διαμενεῖ G1265 (V-FAI-3S) ἢ G2228 (PRT) χίλιοι G5507 (A-NPM) μεγάλοι G3173 (A-NPM) θησαυροὶ G2344 (N-NPM) χρυσίου· G5553 (N-GSN) [13] ἀγαθῆς G18 (A-GSF) ζωῆς G2222 (N-GSF) ἀριθμὸς G706 (N-NSM) ἡμερῶν, G2250 (N-GPF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀγαθὸν G18 (A-NSN) ὄνομα G3686 (N-NSN) εἰς G1519 (PREP) αἰῶνα G165 (N-ASM) διαμενεῖ. G1265 (V-FAI-3S) [14] Παιδείαν G3809 (N-ASF) ἐν G1722 (PREP) εἰρήνῃ G1515 (N-DSF) συντηρήσατε, G4933 (V-AAM-2P) τέκνα· G5043 (N-VPN) σοφία G4678 (N-NSF) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) κεκρυμμένη G2928 (V-RMP-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) θησαυρὸς G2344 (N-NSM) ἀφανής, G852 (A-NSM) τίς G5101 (I-NSF) ὠφέλεια G5622 (N-NSF) ἐν G1722 (PREP) ἀμφοτέροις; G297 (A-DPM) [15] Κρείσσων G2908 (A-NSM-C) ἄνθρωπος G444 (N-NSM) ἀποκρύπτων G613 (V-PAP-NSM) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) μωρίαν G3472 (N-ASF) αὐτοῦ G846 (P-GSM) ἢ G2228 (PRT) ἄνθρωπος G444 (N-NSM) ἀποκρύπτων G613 (V-PAP-NSM) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) σοφίαν G4678 (N-ASF) αὐτοῦ. G846 (P-GSM) [16] Τοιγαροῦν G5105 (PRT) ἐντράπητε G1788 (V-2AAS-2P) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) τῷ G3588 (T-DSN) ῥήματί G4487 (N-DSN) μου· G3450 (P-1GS) οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) γάρ G1063 (CONJ) ἐστιν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) πᾶσαν G3956 (A-ASF) αἰσχύνην G152 (N-ASF) διαφυλάξαι G1314 (V-AAN) καλόν, G2570 (A-NSN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) πάντα G3956 (A-NPN) πᾶσιν G3956 (A-DPM) ἐν G1722 (PREP) πίστει G4102 (N-DSF) εὐδοκιμεῖται. (V-PEI-3S) [17] Αἰσχύνεσθε (V-PMM-2P) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) πατρὸς G3962 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μητρὸς G3384 (N-GSF) περὶ G4012 (PREP) πορνείας G4202 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) ἡγουμένου G2233 (V-PEP-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) δυνάστου G1413 (N-GSM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) ψεύδους, G5571 (A-GSM) [18] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) κριτοῦ G2923 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἄρχοντος G758 (N-GSM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) πλημμελείας (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) συναγωγῆς G4864 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) λαοῦ G2992 (N-GSM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) ἀνομίας, G458 (N-GSF) [19] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) κοινωνοῦ G2844 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) φίλου G5384 (A-GSM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) ἀδικίας G93 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) τόπου, G5117 (N-GSM) οὗ G3757 (ADV) παροικεῖς, G3939 (V-PAI-2S) περὶ G4012 (PREP) κλοπῆς, G2829 (N-GSF) [20] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) ἀληθείας G225 (N-GSF) θεοῦ G2316 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) διαθήκης G1242 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) πήξεως (N-GSF) ἀγκῶνος (N-GSM) ἐπ’ G1909 (PREP) ἄρτοις, G740 (N-DPM) [21] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) σκορακισμοῦ (N-GSM) λήμψεως G3028 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) δόσεως G1394 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) ἀσπαζομένων G782 (V-PEP-GPM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) σιωπῆς, (N-GSF) [22] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) ὁράσεως G3706 (N-GSF) γυναικὸς G1135 (N-GSF) ἑταίρας (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) ἀποστροφῆς (N-GSF) προσώπου G4383 (N-GSN) συγγενοῦς, G4773 (A-GSN) [23] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) ἀφαιρέσεως (N-GSF) μερίδος G3310 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) δόσεως G1394 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) κατανοήσεως (N-GSF) γυναικὸς G1135 (N-GSF) ὑπάνδρου, G5220 (A-GSF) [24] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) περιεργίας (N-GSF) παιδίσκης G3814 (N-GSF) αὐτοῦ G846 (P-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) ἐπιστῇς G2186 (V-2AAS-2S) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) κοίτην G2845 (N-ASF) αὐτῆς, G846 (P-GSF) [25] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) φίλων G5384 (A-GPM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) λόγων G3056 (N-GPM) ὀνειδισμοῦ G3680 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μετὰ G3326 (PREP) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) δοῦναι G1325 (V-2AAN) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) ὀνείδιζε, G3679 (V-PAM-2S) [26] ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) δευτερώσεως (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) λόγου G3056 (N-GSM) ἀκοῆς G189 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) καλύψεως (N-GSF) λόγων G3056 (N-GPM) κρυφίων· (A-GPM) [27] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἔσῃ G2071 (V-FDI-2S) αἰσχυντηρὸς (A-NSM) ἀληθινῶς (ADV) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) εὑρίσκων G2147 (V-PAP-NSM) χάριν G5485 (N-ASF) ἔναντι G1725 (PREP) παντὸς G3956 (A-GSM) ἀνθρώπου. G444 (N-GSM)