Sirach

1Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

2Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

3That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

4Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

5To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder not music.

6Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not lifted up out season with thy wisdom.

7A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

8As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

9Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

10Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

11If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

12In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

13In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

14Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

15And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

16And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

17And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

18He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

19He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

20They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

21A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

22A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

23Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

24My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

25Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones; trust not thyself to a rugged may, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

26And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

27In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

28He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.

1lo cho người ta, rồi mới ngồi vào chỗ.

2rồi lãnh triều thiên thưởng tài tổ chức.

3nhưng xin đừng cản trở việc đàn ca.

4vì như vậy là dạy khôn không đúng lúc.

5ví như nhẫn vàng đính ấn hồng ngọc.

6như khung vàng ghép triện ngọc bích.

7Và khi được mời, cũng chỉ nói hai lần là tối đa.

8làm như kẻ vừa quán triệt vấn đề, vừa biết nín thinh.

9và khi người khác nói, con chớ có bô bô cái miệng.

10mối thiện cảm cũng đón chờ con người khiêm tốn.

11Về nhà ngay, chớ có la cà.

12nhưng đừng ăn nói kiêu căng mà mang tội.

13Đấng ban cho con dồi dào ân phúc.

14Ai từ sáng sớm đã kiếm tìm Người, sẽ được đoái thương.

15còn với kẻ giả hình, Lề Luật trở thành cớ vấp ngã.

16việc tốt họ làm sẽ rực rỡ như ánh quang.

17tìm đủ lẽ để làm theo ý mình.

18thì chẳng biết sợ hãi là gì.

19để không phải hối hận về việc mình làm.

20Đường gồ ghề, con chớ đặt chân, kẻo vấp phải đá.

21Đường bằng phẳng, con đừng ỷ y.

22Cả con cái, cũng phải dè chừng.

23đó cũng là tuân giữ mệnh lệnh.

24Kẻ cậy trông Đức Chúa sẽ chẳng hề thua thiệt.

25This translation does not include this passage.

26This translation does not include this passage.

27This translation does not include this passage.

28This translation does not include this passage.