Sir 13:16 All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to his like.

Sir 13:17 What fellowship hath the wolf with the lamb? so the sinner with the G.o.dly.

Sir 13:18 What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what peace between the rich and the poor?

Sir 13:19 As the wild a.s.s is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor.

Sir 13:20 As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.

Sir 13:21 A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends.

Sir 13:22 When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place.

Sir 13:23 When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.

Sir 13:24 Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the unG.o.dly.

Sir 13:25 The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.

Sir 13:26 A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome labour of the mind.

Sir 14:1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not p.r.i.c.ked with the mult.i.tude of sins.

Sir 14:2 Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.

Sir 14:3 Riches are not comely for a n.i.g.g.ard: and what should an envious man do with money?

Sir 14:4 He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.

Sir 14:5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.

Sir 14:6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.

Sir 14:7 And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.

Sir 14:8 The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.

Sir 14:9 A covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.

Sir 14:10 A wicked eye envieth [his] bread, and he is a n.i.g.g.ard at his table.

Sir 14:11 My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.

Sir 14:12 Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.

Sir 14:13 Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.

Sir 14:14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpa.s.s thee.

Sir 14:15 Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?

Sir 14:16 Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.

Sir 14:17 All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.

Sir 14:18 As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.

Sir 14:19 Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.

Sir 14:20 Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.

Sir 14:21 He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.

Sir 14:22 Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.

Sir 14:23 He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.

Sir 14:24 He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.

Sir 14:25 He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.

Sir 14:26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.

Sir 14:27 By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.

Sir 15:1 He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.

Sir 15:2 And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

Sir 15:3 With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.

Sir 15:4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.

Sir 15:5 She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.

Sir 15:6 He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

Sir 15:7 But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her.

Sir 15:8 For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.

Sir 15:9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.

Sir 15:10 For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.

Sir 15:11 Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.

Sir 15:12 Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.