Sirach 33 — KJVCP

33Verse 1There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord;
But in temptation even again he will deliver him.
^{Verse 2}A wise man hateth not the law;
But he that is a hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
^{Verse 3}A man of understanding trusteth in the law;
And the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
^{Verse 4}Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard:
And bind up instruction, and then make answer.
^{Verse 5}The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel;
And his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
^{Verse 6}A stallion horse is as a mocking friend,
He neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.^{Verse 7}Why doth one day excel another,
When as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
^{Verse 8}By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished:
And he altered seasons and feasts.
^{Verse 9}Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them,
And some of them hath he made ordinary days.
^{Verse 10}And all men are from the ground,
And Adam was created of earth.
^{Verse 11}In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them,
And made their ways diverse.
^{Verse 12}Some of them hath he blessed and exalted,
And some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself:
But some of them hath he cursed and brought low,
And turned out of their places.
^{Verse 13}As the clay is in the potter’s hand,
To fashion it at his pleasure:
So man is in the hand of him that made him,
To render to them as liketh him best.
^{Verse 14}Good is set against evil,
And life against death:
So is the godly against the sinner,
And the sinner against the godly.
^{Verse 15}So look upon all the works of the most High;
And there are two and two, one against another.
^{Verse 16}I awaked up last of all,
As one that gathereth after the grapegatherers:
By the blessing of the Lord I profited,
And filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
^{Verse 17}Consider that I laboured not for myself only,
But for all them that seek learning.^{Verse 18}Hear me, O ye great men of the people,
And hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
^{Verse 19}Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest,
And give not thy goods to another:
Lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.
^{Verse 20}As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee,
Give not thyself over to any.
^{Verse 21}For better it is that thy children should seek to thee,
Than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.
^{Verse 22}In all thy works keep to thyself the pre-eminence;
Leave not a stain in thine honour.
^{Verse 23}At the time when thou shalt end thy days,
And finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.^{Verse 24}Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass;
And bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
^{Verse 25}If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest:
But if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
^{Verse 26}A yoke and a collar do bow the neck:
So are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
^{Verse 27}Send him to labour, that he be not idle;
For idleness teacheth much evil.
^{Verse 28}Set him to work, as is fit for him:
If he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
^{Verse 29}But be not excessive toward any;
And without discretion do nothing.
^{Verse 30}If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself,
Because thou hast bought him with a price.
^{Verse 31}If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother:
For thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul:
If thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee,
Which way wilt thou go to seek him?