Textorah

O death, how bitter is the thought of you to a man at ease in his dwelling, a man untroubled and prospering in everything, still strong enough to enjoy pleasure.

O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, Unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: Yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!

Ah, death, how good is your decree to a man in need and lacking strength, a stumbling man who is struck by everything, rebellious and without hope.

O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, And unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, And is vexed with all things, And to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!

Do not fear death, your decree; remember that those before and those after share it with you.

Fear not the sentence of death, Remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; For this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.

This is the portion of all flesh from God, so why reject the law of the Most High? Whether a thousand years, a hundred or ten, there are no rebukes for life in Sheol.

And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? There is no inquisition in the grave, Whether thou have lived ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years.

A despised brood are the children of the wicked, and a foolish offspring is in the dwelling of the wicked.

The children of sinners are abominable children, And they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.

From a son of iniquity comes evil rule, and poverty is ever with his descendants.

The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, And from their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.

Children curse a wicked father, for because of him they are disgraced.

The children will complain of an ungodly father, Because they will be reproached for his sake.

Woe to you, wicked men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High!

Who be unto you, ungodly men, Which have forsaken the law of the most high God! For if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:

If you are fruitful, it is for calamity, and if you beget, it is for sighing; if you stumble, it is for everlasting joy to others, and if you die, it is for a curse.

And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: And if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.

All that is from nothing returns to nothing; so the godless go from emptiness to emptiness.

All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: So the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.

Man's body is a breath, but a name of kindness will not be cut off.

The mourning of men is about their bodies: But an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.

Be careful of your name, for it will accompany you more than thousands of treasures of wisdom.

Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee Above a thousand great treasures of gold.

The goodness of life lasts a number of days, but the goodness of a name, days without number.

A good life hath but few days: But a good name endureth forever.

Hidden wisdom and concealed treasure — what use is there in either?

My children, keep discipline in peace: For wisdom that is hidden, and a treasure that is not seen, What profit is in them both?

Better a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom. Instruction about shame:

A man that hideth his foolishness is better Than a man that hideth his wisdom.

hear, children, instruction about shame, and be ashamed according to my rule. Not every kind of shame is fitting to keep, and not every kind of disgrace is to be chosen.

Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: For it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; Neither is it altogether approved in everything.

Be ashamed before father and mother of fornication, before a prince and ruler of falsehood,

Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: And of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;

before master and mistress of lying, before the congregation and the people of transgression, before companion and friend of treachery, and before the place where you live of theft;

Of an offense before a judge and ruler; Of iniquity before a congregation and people; Of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;

of breaking an oath and a covenant, of stretching your elbow at the bread,

And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, And in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; And to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; And of scorning to give and take;

of refusing a gift that is asked, of turning away the face of your neighbour,

And of silence before them that salute thee; And to look upon a harlot;

of withholding a portion and a share, of keeping silent before one who greets you, of gazing at a strange woman, and of approaching her maidservant;

And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; Or to take away a portion or a gift; Or to gaze upon another man’s wife;

before a friend, of words of reproach, and after giving a gift, of insulting;

Or to be overbusy with his maid, And come not near her bed; Or of upbraiding speeches before friends; And after thou hast given, upbraid not;

of repeating a word you hear, and of laying bare any secret counsel.

Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; And of revealing of secrets;

Then you will be truly modest, and find favour in the eyes of all the living.]

So shalt thou be truly shamefaced, And find favor before all men.