Chapter 16

¹ Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children,

Sir 16:1

² Though they multiply, rejoice not in them,

Sir 16:2

³ Trust not thou in their life,

Sir 16:3

⁴ For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished:

Sir 16:4

⁵ Many such things have I seen with mine eyes,

Sir 16:5

⁶ In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled;

Sir 16:6

⁷ He was not pacified toward the old giants,

Sir 16:7

⁸ Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned,

Sir 16:8

⁹ He pitied not the people of perdition,

Sir 16:9

¹⁰ Nor the six hundred thousand footmen,

Sir 16:10

¹¹ And if there be one stiff-necked among the people,

Sir 16:11

¹² As his mercy is great, so is his correction also:

Sir 16:12

¹³ The sinner shall not escape with his spoils:

Sir 16:13

¹⁴ Make way for every work of mercy:

Sir 16:14

¹⁷ Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord:

Sir 16:17

¹⁸ Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens,

Sir 16:18

¹⁹ The mountains also and foundations of the earth

Sir 16:19

²⁰ No heart can think upon these things worthily:

Sir 16:20

²¹ It is a tempest which no man can see:

Sir 16:21

²² Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them?

Sir 16:22

²³ He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things:

Sir 16:23

²⁴ My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge,

Sir 16:24

²⁵ I will show forth doctrine in weight,

Sir 16:25

²⁶ The works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning:

Sir 16:26

²⁷ He garnished his works forever,

Sir 16:27

²⁸ None of them hindereth another,

Sir 16:28

²⁹ After this the Lord looked upon the earth,

Sir 16:29

³⁰ With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof;

Sir 16:30