Глава 14

Happy is the man whose conscience has no reason to reproach him for bad deeds. Do not be unreasonably stingy, envious, or covetous. Use the blessings of life to satisfy the reasonable needs of your soul. Be merciful to your neighbor, diligent in your offerings to the Lord. Strive to acquire wisdom, and wisdom will find you. Sir.14:1 Blessed is the man who has not sinned with his lips and has not been wounded by the sorrow of sin. Sir.14:2 Blessed is he whose soul does not despise him and who has not lost his hope. Sir.14:3 Riches are not good for a stingy man. And what use is property to an unkind person? Sir.14:4 He who gathers, taking from his own soul, gathers for others, and others will be satisfied with his goods. Sir.14:5 Whoever is evil to himself will be good to whom? And he will not have joy from his possessions. Sir.14:6 There is no worse person who is unkind to himself, and this is the reward for his malice. Sir.14:7 Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness, and then he reveals his evil. Sir.14:8 He who has envious eyes turns away his face and despises souls. Sir.14:9 The eyes of the covetous are not satisfied with any part, and the unrighteousness of the evil one dries up the soul. Sir.14:10 The evil eye is envious even of bread and suffers poverty in its table. 3–10. A stingy person is his own enemy: the savings made by a stingy person often deprive him of the opportunity to satisfy his most basic needs, and at the same time not only does not drown out the greed of acquisitions in him, but, on the contrary, feeds it more and more. Sir.14:11 My son! According to your condition, do good to yourself and bring offerings to the Lord worthily. Sir.14:12 Remember that death does not tarry, and the covenant of hell is not revealed to you: 12. Testament of Hell, i.e. the day of your death and imprisonment in the depths of Sheol. Sir.14:13 Before you die, do good to your friend, and according to your strength, stretch out your hand and give to him. Sir.14:14 Do not deprive yourself of a good day, and let no part of a good desire pass you by. Sir.14:15 Will you not leave your gains and the fruits of your efforts to others to be divided by lot? Sir.14:16 Give and receive, and comfort your soul, Sir.14:17 For in hell there is no joy to be found. Sir.14:18 All flesh wears out like clothing; for from time immemorial there is a definition: “you will die by death.” Sir.14:19 Like green leaves on a thick tree - some fall, and others grow: so is the race of flesh and blood - one dies, and another is born. Sir.14:20 Every thing that is subject to corruption disappears, and the one who made it dies with it. 14–20 . While you are alive, enjoy the blessings of life, but only to satisfy the reasonable and pious needs of your soul. Sir.14:21 Blessed is the man who exercises himself in wisdom and learns holy things in his understanding. Sir.14:22 Whoever meditates in his heart on her ways will also gain understanding in her mysteries. Sir.14:23 Go out after her like a hunter and lay an ambush in her paths. Sir.14:24 He who bows to her windows will also listen at her doors. Sir.14:25 Whoever comes near her house will drive a nail into her walls, and will pitch his tent near her and will dwell in a good dwelling. Sir.14:26 He will put his children under her roof and have a place to sleep under her shadow. Sir.14:27 He will cover himself from the heat with it and will live in its glory. 21–27. Only those who strive with all the strength of their soul to understand and assimilate its advice achieve wisdom and enjoy its fruits.