Ecclesiasticus 33
33
1 #
Job 5.19; Ps 91.10; Prov 12.21; 1 Pet 3.13;
Matt 6.13; 2 Pet 2.9. There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him. 2A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm. 3#1 Macc 3.48. A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle. 4Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer. 5The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree. 6A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
Diversities Ordained by God
7Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun? 8By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts. 9Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days. 10#Gen 2.7; Job 10.9. And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth. 11In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse. 12Some of them hath he blessed and exalted, and some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places. 13#Isa 29.16; 45.9; 64.8; Jer 18.4-6; Wis 15.7,8; Rom 9.21. As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best. 14Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly. 15So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
The Author's Purpose
16I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes. 17#Ecclus 24.34. Consider that I labored not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning. 18#Wis 6.1,2. Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
Financial Independence
19Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again. 20As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any. 21For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy. 22In all thy works keep to thyself the pre-eminence; leave not a stain in thine honor. 23At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
The Treatment of Servants
24 #
Prov 26.3. Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant. 25If thou set thy servant to labor, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty. 26A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant. 27Send him to labor, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil. 28Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters. 29But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing. 30If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price. 31#Phlm 16. If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.