Collection
Sirach
Read Sirach online — practical wisdom for everyday godly living
51 chapters — your reading progress will grow here.
Chapters
Chapter I
1 All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever. 2 Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain…
Chapter II
1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. 2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure…
Chapter III
1 Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe. 2 For the Lord hath given the father honour o…
Chapter IV
1 My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long. 2 Make not an hungry soul sorrow…
Chapter V
1 Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life. 2 Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to…
Chapter VI
1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so sh…
Chapter VII
1 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee. 2 Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee. 3 My so…
Chapter VIII
1 Strive not with a mighty man, lest thou fall into his hands. 2 Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh t…
Chapter IX
1 Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself. 2 Give not thy soul unto …
Chapter X
1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered. 2 As the judge of the peop…
Chapter XI
1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men. 2 Commend not a man fo…
Chapter XII
1 When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits. 2 Do good to the godly m…
Chapter XIII
1 He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him…
Chapter XIV
1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins. 2 Blessed is h…
Chapter XV
1 He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her. 2 And as a mother s…
Chapter XVI
1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons. 2 Though they multiply, rejoice not …
Chapter XVII
1 The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again. 2 He gave them few days, and a short time, and power …
Chapter XVIII
1 He that liveth for ever created all things in general. 2 The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he, 3…
Chapter XIX
1 A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by litt…
Chapter XX
1 There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise. 2 It is much better to repr…
Chapter XXI
1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins. 2 Flee from sin as from the face of a ser…
Chapter XXII
1 A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace. 2 A slothful man is com…
Chapter XXIII
1 O Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them. 2 Who w…
Chapter XXIV
1 Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people. 2 In the congregation of the most High shall …
Chapter XXV
1 In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of n…
Chapter XXVI
1 Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double. 2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth…
Chapter XXVII
1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away. 2 As a nail sticketh f…
Chapter XXVIII
1 He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins [in remembrance.] 2 Forgive thy…
Chapter XXIX
1 He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments. 2 Lend …
Chapter XXX
1 He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end. 2 He that chastiseth h…
Chapter XXXI
1 Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep. 2 Watching care will not let a man s…
Chapter XXXII
1 If thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care…
Chapter XXXIII
1 There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him. 2 A wise …
Chapter XXXIV
1 The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools. 2 Whoso regardeth dreams is lik…
Chapter XXXV
1 He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering. 2…
Chapter XXXVI
1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us: 2 And send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after the…
Chapter XXXVII
1 Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name. 2 Is it not a grief u…
Chapter XXXVIII
1 Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him. …
Chapter XXXIX
1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the …
Chapter XL
1 Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of t…
Chapter XLI
1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath…
Chapter XLII
1 Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby: 2 Of the law of the most High, and his coven…
Chapter XLIII
1 The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew; 2 The sun when it appearet…
Chapter XLIV
1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. 2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his g…
Chapter XLV
1 And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and…
Chapter XLVI
1 Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name …
Chapter XLVII
1 And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David. 2 As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so …
Chapter XLVIII
1 Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp. 2 He brought a sore famine upon them, and by…
Chapter XLIX
1 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is swee…
Chapter L
1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the templ…
Chapter LI
1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name: 2 For thou art …
