Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

1Honour a physician before need of him (H): Him also hath God apportioned.

2From God a physician getteth wisdom; And from a king he shall receive gifts.

3The skill of a physician shall lift up his head; And he shall stand before nobles.

4God bringeth out medicines from the earth; And let a prudent man not refuse them.

5Was not water made sweet with wood, For to acquaint every man with his (M their) power?

6And he gave man understanding; To glory in his (M their) might.

7By them doth the physician assuage pain; And likewise the apothecary maketh a confection:

8That his work may not fail (?); Nor health from among the sons of men (M his earth).

9My son, in sickness be not negligent (?): Pray unto God, for he will heal.

10Flee from iniquity, and from respect of persons; And from all transgressions cleanse thy heart.

11Offer a sweet savour (?) as a memorial; And fatness estimated according to thy substance (?).

12And to the physician also give (?) a place; And he shall not remove, for there is need of him likewise.

13For there is a time when in his hand is good success (?): For he too will supplicate unto God,

14That he will prosper (H) to him the treatment (or draught), And the healing, for the sake of his (?) living.

15He that sinneth against his Maker Will behave himself proudly (H) against a physician.

16My son, let tears fall over the dead: Be in bitterness, and wail with lamentation.

17According to the manner of each, bury his (M their) flesh; And hide not thyself when they die (?). Weep bitterly, and make grievous wailing; And appoint mourning accordingly (?): A day or two because of hearsay (?); And be comforted for the sake of health (?).

18Out of sorrow (?) cometh harm; So the sad of heart buildeth up trouble (?).

19Set not the heart upon him (M) any more; Dismiss his remembrance, and remember the end.

20Remember his sentence, for it is thy sentence; His yesterday, and thine to day.

21Remember him not, for there is no hope for him; What shalt thou profit him (?)? and thou shalt hurt thyself.

22When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; And be comforted when his soul departeth.

23The wisdom of the scribe increaseth wisdom (H); And he that hath little business shall become wise.

24How shall he get wisdom that holdeth the plough (or goad), And glorieth in the stimulant (?) spear?

25He is busied with oxen, and leadeth about cattle (?); And his discourses are with bullocks.

26And his wakefulness is to victual (?) the stall: He setteth his heart to plough furrows.

27Likewise the artificer..... Which by night is busied (M)... *******