Sirach 5

Wycliffe Bible

5 Do not thou take heed to wicked possessions, and say thou not, Sufficient life is to me, that is, long is to coming to me, therefore I must get many things; for it shall nothing profit in the time of vengeance, and of failing, either death. [Do thou not take heed to wicked possessions, and not say thou, There is to me sufficient life; nothing forsooth it shall profit in the time of vengeance, and of oppressing, or death.]

² (Pur)Sue thou not the covetousness of thine heart in thy strength, [Not follow thou in thy strength the coveting of thine heart,]

³ and say thou not, As I might, either who shall make me subject for my deeds? For why God (a)venging shall (a)venge. [and not say thou, What manner might I, or who me shall subject for my deeds? God forsooth venging shall venge.]

⁴ Say thou not, I have sinned, and what sorrowful thing befell to me? For the Highest is a patient yielder.

⁵ Of the forgiveness of sins, do not thou be without dread, neither heap thou, [or lay thou], sin upon sin.

⁶ And say thou not, The merciful doing of God is great; he shall have mercy on the multitude of my sins. For why mercy and ire nigheth (or approacheth) soon from him, and his ire beholdeth on sinners. [And say thou not, The mercy of God is great; of the multitude of my sins he shall have mercy. Mercy forsooth and wrath from him soon nigheth (or approacheth), and into sinners beholdeth the wrath of him.]

⁷ Tarry thou not to be converted to the Lord, and delay thou not from day into day. For why his ire shall come suddenly, and he shall lose (or shall destroy) thee in the time of vengeance. [Not tarry thou to be converted to the Lord, and not put thou it off from day into day. Suddenly forsooth shall come the wrath of him, and in time of vengeance he shall destroy thee.]

⁸ Do not thou be anguished in unjust riches; for those shall not profit in the day of failing, either of death, and of vengeance. [Do not thou be anguished in unright riches; forsooth they shall not profit in the day of death, and of vengeances.]

⁹ Winnow thee not into each wind, and go thou not into each way; for so a sinner is proved in (or with) (a) double tongue. [Not throw thou thee out into each wind, and go thou not into each way; so forsooth a sinner is proved in double tongue.]

¹⁰ Be thou steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in truth and cunning (or the knowing) of thy wit; and the word of peace and of rightfulness (pur)sue thee perfectly. [Be thou steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy wit and cunning; and perfectly follow thee the word of peace and of rightwiseness.]

¹¹ Be thou mild (or meek) to hear the word of God, (so) that thou understand, and with wisdom bring thou forth a true answer. [Be thou debonair to hear the word of God, that thou understand, and with wisdom thou shalt bring forth a sooth answer.]

¹² If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbor; else thine hand be on thy mouth, lest thou be taken in a word unwisely taught, and be ashamed. [If there is to thee understanding, answer to thy neighbour; else forsooth thine hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be taken in an undisciplined word, and thou be confounded.]

¹³ Honour and glory is in the word of a wise man; but the tongue of an unprudent man is his destroying. [Worship and glory in the word of the well-feeling; the tongue forsooth of the unprudent is the turning upside-down of him.]

¹⁴ Be thou not called a privy evil speaker, in thy life, and be thou not taken in (or with) thy tongue, and be ashamed. Shame and penance is on a thief, and worst shame, either cursing, is on a man of (or with) (a) double tongue. Forsooth hatred and enmity and despising is to a privy backbiter. [Be thou not called a twisel tongue, or a privy backbiter, in thy life, and be thou not taken in thy tongue, and confounded. Forsooth upon a thief is confusion, and pain taking, and worst reproof upon the twisel tongue. To the privy grudgers (or grumblers) hate, and enmity, and strife.]

¹⁵ Justify thou a little man and a great man in like manner. [Justify thou (in) like manner the little and the great.]