ever thou be sick. 20 Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy. 21Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance. 22Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified. 23 Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. 24 Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face. 25 When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need. 26 From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord. 27 A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time. 28 Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her. 29 They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables. 30 Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites. 3 If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee. 32 Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof. 33 Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.

Nov. 10. Morning. Ecclus. XIX. 13.

19 13 ADMONISH a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more. 14 Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it and if he have, that he speak it not again. 15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale. 16 There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue? 17 Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High. |

18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtaineth his love. 19 The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality. 20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency. 21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him. 22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence. 23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom. 24 He_that_hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High. 25 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment. 26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit, 27 casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware. 28 And

if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil. 29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him. 30 A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.

Nov. 10. Evening. Ecclus. XXII. 6.

22 A TALE out of season [is as] musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time. 7 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep. 8 He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter? 9 If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover

10 But

14 What is what is the 15 Sand, and

the baseness of their parents. children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred. II Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death. 12 Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life. 13 Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness. heavier than lead? and name thereof, but a fool? salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding. 16 As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time. 17 A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery. 18 Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear. 19 He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge. 20 Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.

21

nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.

Nov. 11. Morning. Ecclus. XXIV. 1.

24 WISDOM shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people. 2 In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and triumph before his power. 3 I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud. 4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar. 5 I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep. In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a possession. 7 With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide? 8 So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel. 9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail. In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion. II Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power. 12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance. 13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon. 14 I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water. 15 I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle. 16 As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace. 17 As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him. 19 Come unto me, all ye that be desir

Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning [to favour.] 22 If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for these things every friend will depart. 23 Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned:

18 I

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ous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits. 20 For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb. They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty. 22 He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss. 23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob.

Nov. 11. Evening. Ecclus. XXIV. 24. 24 FAINT not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no other Saviour. 25 He filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in the time of the new fruits. 26 He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest. 27 He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage. 28 The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find her out. 29 For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels profounder than the great deep. 30 I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden. 31 I said, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a sea. 32 I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send forth her light afar off. 33 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever. 34 Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom.

are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth. 11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse. 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. 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. 14 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly. 15 So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another. 161 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. 17 Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning. 18 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation. 19Give 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. 20 As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any. 21 For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy. 22 In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour. Nov. 12. Evening. Ecclus. XXXIV. 15.

34 15 BLESSED is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he look? and who is his strength? 16 For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling. 17 He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing. 18 He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted. 19 The

Nov. 12. Morning. Ecclus. XXXIII. 7. 33 7 WHY doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun? By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts. 9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days. 10 And all men

most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices. 20 Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father's eyes. 21 The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood. 22 He that taketh away his neighbour's living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder. 23 When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have they then_but_labour? | 24 When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear? 25 He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing? 26 So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humbling profit him?

Nov. 13. Morning. Ecclus. xxxv. 1. 35 HE that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering. He that requiteth a good turn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise. 3To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation. Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord. 5 For all these things [are to be done] because of the commandment. "The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High. 7The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable, and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten. Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands. 9 In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness. 10 Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye. "For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much. 12 Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is

judge, and with him is no respect of persons. 13 He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed. 14 He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint. 15 Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall? 16 He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds. 17 The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment. 18 For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous; 19 till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy. 20 Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

Nov. 13. Evening. Ecclus. XXXVII. 8.

37 8 BEWARE of a counseller, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee, and say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee. 10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee. Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of

counsel. 12 But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry. 13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it. 14 For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower. 15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth. 16Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action. 17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart. 18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.

congregation shall declare his praise. If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it. 12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.

Nov. 14. Evening. Ecclus. XXXIX. 13.

13 HEARKEN unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field: 14 and give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works. 15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner: 16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season. 17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters. 18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save. 19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes. 20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him. 21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses. 22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood. 23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath. 24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked. 25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners. 26 The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing. 27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil. 28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes ;

Nov. 14. Morning. Ecclus. XXXIX. 1. 39 BUT he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies. He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also. 3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables. 4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men. 5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins. "When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer. 7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation. 10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the