✠ The Douay-Rheims Bible
✠ Sirach 38
Chapters
SIR 38:1 Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.
SIR 38:2 For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.
SIR 38:3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.
SIR 38:4 The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.
SIR 38:5 Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?
SIR 38:6 The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the meet High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.
SIR 38:7 By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.
SIR 38:8 For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.
SIR 38:9 My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.
SIR 38:10 Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.
SIR 38:11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.
SIR 38:12 For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.
SIR 38:13 For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:
SIR 38:14 And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.
SIR 38:15 He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.
SIR 38:16 My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.
SIR 38:17 And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a, day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.
SIR 38:18 And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction.
SIR 38:19 For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.
SIR 38:20 In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.
SIR 38:21 Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.
SIR 38:22 Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.
SIR 38:23 Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to day for thee.
SIR 38:24 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.
SIR 38:25 The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.
SIR 38:26 With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?
SIR 38:27 He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.
SIR 38:28 So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.
SIR 38:29 So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.
SIR 38:30 The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pat tern of the vessel he maketh.
SIR 38:31 He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them, to perfection.
SIR 38:32 So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:
SIR 38:33 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:
SIR 38:34 He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.
SIR 38:35 All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.
SIR 38:36 Without these a city is not built.
SIR 38:37 And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.
SIR 38:38 Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken: