Old Testament readings use the Septuagint , the Scripture the apostles quoted. Masoretic numbering shown for reference.Learn why

Sirach 23

Septuagint (LXX2012) compared with World English Bible

Listen & follow along

Today's reading with verse-by-verse highlighting

View

Septuagint (LXX2012)

Authoritative text

World English Bible

Masoretic-derived · highlighted where altered

1O Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them.
1O Lord, Father and Master of my life, don’t abandon me to their counsel. Don’t let me fall because of them.
2Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my heart? that they spare me not for my ignorances, and it pass not by my sins:
2Who will set scourges over my thought, and a discipline of wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not for my errors, and not overlook their sins?
3Lest my ignorances increase, and my sins abound to my destruction, and I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me, whose hope is far from your mercy.
3Otherwise my errors might be multiplied, and my sins abound, I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me.
4O Lord, Father and God of my life, give me not a proud look, but turn away from your servants always a haughty mind.
4O Lord, Father and God of my life, don’t give me a haughty eyes,
5Turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and you shall hold him up that is desirous always to serve you.
5and turn away evil desire from me.
6Let not the greediness of the belly nor lust of the flesh take hold of me; and give not over me your servant into an impudent mind.
6Let neither gluttony nor lust overtake me. Don’t give me over to a shameless mind.
7Hear, O you⌃ children, the discipline of the mouth: he that keeps it shall never be taken in his lips.
7Listen, my children, to the discipline of the mouth. He who keeps it will not be caught.
8The sinner shall be left in his foolishness: both the evil speaker and the proud shall fall thereby.
8The sinner will be overpowered through his lips. By them, the insulter and the arrogant will stumble.
9Accustom not your mouth to swearing; neither use yourself to the naming of the Holy One.
9Don’t accustom your mouth to an oath, and don’t be accustomed to naming the Holy One,
10For as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without a blue mark: so he that swears and names God continually shall not be faultless.
10for as a servant who is continually scourged will not lack bruises, so he also who swears and continually utters the Name will not be cleansed from sin.
11A man that uses much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall never depart from his house: if he shall offend, his sin shall be upon him: and if he acknowledge not his sin, he makes a double offense: and if he swear in vain, he shall not be innocent, but his house shall be full of calamities.
11A man of many oaths will be filled with iniquity. The scourge will not depart from his house. If he offends, his sin will be upon him. If he disregards it, he has sinned doubly. If he has sworn falsely, he will not be justified, for his house will be filled with calamities.
12There is a word that is clothed about with death: God grant that it be not found in the heritage of Jacob; for all such things shall be far from the godly, and they shall not wallow in their sins.
12There is a manner of speech that is clothed with death. Let it not be found in the heritage of Jacob, for all these things will be far from the godly, and they will not wallow in sins.
13Use not your mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is the word of sin.
13Don’t accustom your mouth to gross rudeness, for it involves sinful speech.
14Remember your father and your mother, when you sit among great men. Be not forgetful before them, and so you by your custom become a fool, and wish that you had not been born, and curse they day of your nativity.
14Remember your father and your mother, for you sit in the midst of great men, that you be not forgetful before them, and become a fool by your bad habit; so you may wish that you had not been born, and curse the day of your birth.
15The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will never be reformed all the days of his life.
15A man who is accustomed to abusive language won’t be corrected all the days of his life.
16Two sorts of men multiply sin, and the third will bring wrath: a hot mind is as a burning fire, it will never be quenched till it be consumed: a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till he has kindled a fire.
16Two sorts of people multiply sins, and the third will bring wrath: a hot passion, like a burning fire, will not be quenched until it is consumed; a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease until he has burned out the fire.
17All bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till he die.
17All bread is sweet to a fornicator. He will not cease until he dies.
18A man that breaks wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who sees me? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me, and no body sees me; what need I to fear? the most High will not remember my sins:
18A man who goes astray from his own marriage bed says in his heart, Who sees me? Darkness is around me, and the walls hide me. No one sees me. Of whom am I afraid? The Most High will not remember my sins.”
19Such a man only fears the eyes of men, and knows not that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts.
19The eyes of men are his terror. He doesn’t know that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, seeing all the ways of men, and looking into secret places.
20He knew all things ere ever they were created; so also after they were perfected he looked upon them all.
20All things were known to him before they were created, and also after they were completed.
21This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and where he suspects not he shall be taken.
21This man will be punished in the streets of the city. He will be seized where he least expects it.
22Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaves her husband, and brings in an heir by another .
22So also is a wife who leaves her husband, and produces an heir by another man.
23For first, she has disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she has trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she has played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man.
23For first, she was disobedient in the law of the Most High. Second, she trespassed against her own husband. Third, she played the adulteress in fornication, and had children by another man.
24She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquisition shall be made of her children.
24She shall be brought out into the congregation. Her punishment will extend to her children.
25Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit.
25Her children will not take root. Her branches will bear no fruit.
26She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall not be blotted out.
26She will leave her memory for a curse. Her reproach won’t be blotted out.
27And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed to the commandments of the Lord.
27And those who are left behind will know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord.