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Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 32
Lessons for superiors and inferiors. Advantages of fearing God, and doing nothing without counsel.
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Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them. |
2 |
Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place: |
3 |
That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution. |
4 |
Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee, |
5 |
To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music. |
6 |
Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom. |
7 |
A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold. |
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As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine. |
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Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee. |
10 |
Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause. |
11 |
If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short. |
12 |
In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking. |
13 |
In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much. |
14 |
Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee. |
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And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime. |
16 |
And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech. |
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And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things. |
18 |
He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing. |
19 |
He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein. |
20 |
They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light. |
21 |
A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will. |
22 |
A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear: |
23 |
Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking. |
24 |
My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done. |
25 |
Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul. |
26 |
And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household. |
27 |
In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments. |
28 |
He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse. |
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