1 Much labor was created for every man, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day they come forth from their mother's womb till the day they return to the mother of all.
2 Their perplexities and fear of heart -- their anxious thought is the day of death,
3 from the man who sits on a splendid throne to the one who is humbled in dust and ashes,
4 from the man who wears purple and a crown to the one who is clothed in burlap;
5 there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest, and fear of death, and fury and strife. And when one rests upon his bed, his sleep at night confuses his mind.
6 He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as though he were on watch, he is troubled by the visions of his mind like one who has escaped from the battle-front;
7 at the moment of his rescue he wakes up, and wonders that his fear came to nothing.
8 With all flesh, both man and beast, and upon sinners seven times more,
9 are death and bloodshed and strife and sword, calamities, famine and affliction and plague.
10 All these were created for the wicked, and on their account the flood came.
11 All things that are from the earth turn back to the earth, and what is from the waters returns to the sea.
12 All bribery and injustice will be blotted out, but good faith will stand for ever.
13 The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a torrent, and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a rain.
14 A generous man will be made glad; likewise transgressors will utterly fail.
15 The children of the ungodly will not put forth many branches; they are unhealthy roots upon sheer rock.
16 The reeds by any water or river bank will be plucked up before any grass.
17 Kindness is like a garden of blessings, and almsgiving endures for ever.
18 Life is sweet for the self-reliant and the worker, but he who finds treasure is better off than both.
19 Children and the building of a city establish a man's name, but a blameless wife is accounted better than both.
20 Wine and music gladden the heart, but the love of wisdom is better than both.
21 The flute and the harp make pleasant melody, but a pleasant voice is better than both.
22 The eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both.
23 A friend or a companion never meets one amiss, but a wife with her husband is better than both.
24 Brothers and help are for a time of trouble, but almsgiving rescues better than both.
25 Gold and silver make the foot stand sure, but good counsel is esteemed more than both.
26 Riches and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is better than both. There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and with it there is no need to seek for help.
27 The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing, and covers a man better than any glory.
28 My son, do not lead the life of a beggar; it is better to die than to beg.
29 When a man looks to the table of another, his existence cannot be considered as life. He pollutes himself with another man's food, but a man who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.
30 In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet, but in his stomach a fire is kindled.
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiasticus, 41:
Ecclesiastical 41 deals with human mortality and the need for preparation for death. The chapter warns of the inevitability of death and urges readers to consider their own mortality and to prepare for death after death. The verses selected below address topics such as the brevity of life, wisdom and prudence necessary to prepare for death, and the importance of seeking God's mercy.
Job 14:5: "Since your days are already marked, with you is the number of your months; you have given you boundaries and borders, and it will not pass them." This verse talks about the brevity of human life and how God has power over the duration of our lives.
Proverbs 22:3: "Prudent perceives danger and seeking refuge; the inexperienced follows and suffers the consequences." This verse talks about the importance of wisdom and prudence to prepare for death and avoid suffering.
Luke 12:20: "But God said unto you, Crazy! Tonight, your life will be required to you. So who will you have what you prepared?" This verse talks about the uncertainty of life and the importance of preparing for death before it is too late.
Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to tell our days, that we may reach wise heart." This verse talks about the importance of valuing the time we have on earth and preparing ourselves for life after death.
Ecclesiastes 7:1: "Better fame is better than the best ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth." This verse talks about the importance of preparing for death and having a good reputation, which will last beyond our earthly life.
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