Ecclesiasticus 17-20

Chapter 17

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 also over the things therein. 3 He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to His image, 4 And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls. 5 They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in the sixth place He imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof. 6 Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave He them to understand. 7 Withal He filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and showed them good and evil. 8 He set His eye upon their hearts, that He might show them the greatness of His works. 9 He gave them to glory in His marvelous acts forever, that they might declare His works with understanding. 10 And the elect shall praise His holy name. 11 Beside this He gave them knowledge, and the law of life for a heritage. 12 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them His judgments. 13 Their eyes saw the majesty of His glory, and their ears heard His glorious voice. 14 And He said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and He gave every man commandment concerning his neighbor.

15 Their ways are ever before Him, and shall not be hid from His eyes. 16 Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony. 17 For in the division of the nations of the whole earth He set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion: 18 Whom, being His firstborn, He nourishes with discipline, and giving him the light of His love does not forsake him. 19 Therefore all their works are as the sun before Him, and His eyes are continually upon their ways. 20 None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from Him, but all their sins are before the Lord 21 But the Lord being gracious and knowing His workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them. 22 The alms of a man is as a signet with Him, and He will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to His sons and daughters. 23 Afterwards He will rise up and reward them, and render their recompense upon their heads. 24 But unto them that repent, He granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

25 Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before His face, and offend less. 26 Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity: for He will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently. 27 Who shall praise the Most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks? 28 Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord. 29 How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and His compassion unto such as turn unto Him in holiness! 30 For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal. 31 What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof fails; and flesh and blood will imagine evil. 32 He views the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.

Chapter 18

He that lives forever Has created all things in general. 2 The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but He, 3 Who governs the world with the palm of His hand, and all things obey His will: for He is the King of all, by His power dividing holy things among them from profane. 4 To whom has He given power to declare His works? and who shall find out His noble acts? 5 Who shall number the strength of His majesty? and who shall also tell out His mercies? 6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may anything be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out. 7 When a man has done, then he begins; and when he leaves off, then he shall be doubtful.

8 What is man, and where to serves he? what is his good, and what is his evil? 9 The number of a man’s days at the most are a hundred years. 10 As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravel-stone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity. 11 Therefore is God patient with them, and pours forth His mercy upon them. 12 He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore He multiplied His compassion. 13 The mercy of man is toward his neighbor; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: He reproves, and nurtures, and teaches and brings again, as a shepherd his flock. 14 He has mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after His judgments.

15 My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou give anything. 16 Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so is a word better than a gift. 17 Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man. 18 A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumes the eyes.

19 Learn before thou speak, and use physic or ever thou be sick. 20 Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shall find mercy. 21 Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins show repentance. 22 Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified. 23 Before thou pray, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempts the Lord. 24 Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when He shall turn away His face. 25 When thou has enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou are rich, think upon poverty and need. 26 From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord. 27 A wise man will fear in everything, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offense: but a fool will not observe time. 28 Every man of understanding knows wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her. 29 They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.

30 Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites. 31 If thou give thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee. 32 Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expense thereof. 33 Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou has nothing in thy purse: for thou shall lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.

Chapter 19

A laboring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemns small things shall fall by little and little. 2 Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaves to harlots will become impudent. 3 Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away. 4 He that is hasty to give credit is light-minded; and he that sins shall offend against his own soul. 5 Whoso takes pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resists pleasures crowns his life. 6 He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hates babbling shall have less evil. 7 Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shall fare never the worse. 8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives; and if thou can without offense, reveal them not. 9 For he heard and observed thee, and when time comes he will hate thee. 10 If thou has heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee. 11 A fool travails with a word, as a woman in labor of a child. 12 As an arrow that sticks in a man’s thigh, so is a word within a fool’s belly.

13 Admonish a friend, it may be he has not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more. 14 Admonish thy friend, it may be he has not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again. 15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale. 16 There is one that slips in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that has not offended with his tongue? 17 Admonish thy neighbor before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the Most High.

18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of Him, and wisdom obtains His love. 19 The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please Him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality. 20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of His omnipotency. 21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleases thee; though afterward he do it, he angers him that nourishes him. 22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence. 23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom. 24 He that has small understanding, and fears God, is better than one that has much wisdom, and transgresses the law of the Most High. 25 There is an exquisite subtlety, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turns aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifies in judgment. 26 There is a wicked man that hangs down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit, 27 Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware. 28 And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he finds opportunity he will do evil. 29 A man may be known by his look, and one that has understanding by his countenance, when thou meet him. 30 A man’s attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, show what he is.

Chapter 20

There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holds his tongue, and he is wise. 2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly: and he that confesses his fault shall be preserved from hurt. 3 How good is it, when thou are reproved, to show repentance! for so shall thou escape wilful sin. 4 As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executes judgment with violence.

5 There is one that keeps silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becomes hateful. 6 Some man holds his tongue, because he has not to answer: and some keeps silence, knowing his time. 7 A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time. 8 He that uses many words shall be abhorred; and he that takes to himself authority therein shall be hated.

9 There is a sinner that has good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turns to loss. 10 There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompense is double. 11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifts up his head from a low estate. 12 There is that buys much for a little, and repays it sevenfold.

13 A wise man by his words makes him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out. 14 The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou has it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looks to receive many things for one. 15 He gives little, and upbraids much; he opens his mouth like a crier; today he lends, and tomorrow will he ask it again: such a one is to be hated of God and man. 16 The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me. 17 How often, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he knows not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him as if he had it not.

18 To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily. 19 An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise. 20 A wise sentence shall be rejected when it comes out of a fool’s mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.

21 There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he takes rest, he shall not be troubled. 22 There is that destroys his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthrows himself. 23 There is that for bashfulness promises to his friend, and makes him his enemy for nothing.

24 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught. 25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage. 26 The disposition of a liar is dishonorable, and his shame is ever with him.

27 A wise man shall promote himself to honor with his words: and he that has understanding will please great men. 28 He that tills his land shall increase his heap: and he that pleases great men shall get pardon for iniquity.

29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove.

30 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both? 31 Better is he that hides his folly than a man that hides his wisdom. 32 Necessary patience in seeking the Lord is better than he that leads his life without a guide.

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King James Version Bible. It was authorized by King James I. It was translated by the Church of England and was first published in 1611.

God’s words are in red letters, old and new testament, as it should be. It is in paragraph form for easy reading. With all verses numbers labeled in blue for quick reference.

The Apocrypha was in the original King James version of the Bible. It should never have been removed. At the time Jesus was on earth the old testament and the Apocrypha scriptures were studied.

All scripture is Jewish scripture, Judaism is a religion not an ethnicity. Jesus is the Savior of the Jews. He is the Head of the Church.

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

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