Sirach 16

1Do not desire a multitude of useless children, Nor rejoice in ungodly sons.

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2If they multiply, do not rejoice over them If the fear of the Lord is not in them.

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3Do not trust in their life Nor pay attention to their multitude; For one godly child is better than a thousand. And it is better to die childless than to have ungodly children.

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4For from one child with wisdom a city will be filled with people, But a tribe of lawless men will make it desolate.

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5My eyes have seen many such things, And my ear has heard worse things than this.

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6In the congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled, And in a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled.

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7There was no atonement for the ancient giants Who turned away from God because of their strength.

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8He did not spare the cities where Lot sojourned, Whom He detested because of their arrogance.

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9He had no mercy on a nation destined for destruction Who were taken away because of their sins.

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10The same thing happened to the six hundred thousand foot-soldiers Who gathered together in their hardness of heart.

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11Even if there was only one stiff-necked man, It would be a marvel if he were to remain unpunished. For mercy and wrath belong to the Lord, And He is mighty to forgive; And He pours out wrath.

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12As great as His mercy, so also great is His rebuke, And He will judge a man according to his works.

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13A sinner will not escape with his spoils, And the patience of a godly man will not fare badly.

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14He will make a place for every act of mercy. Each will find this out according to his works.

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15Do not say, 'I will be hidden from the Lord, And who will remember me from on high? I will not be known among so many people, For what is my soul in comparison to the immeasurable creation?

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16Behold, heaven and the highest heaven, The abyss and the earth will be shaken at His visitation.

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17At the same time, the mountains and the foundations of the earth Will shake with trembling when He looks upon them.

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18No heart will able to think about these things, And who will ponder His ways?

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19There will be a sudden blast of wind which no man will see, For most of His works will be done in secret.

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20Who will proclaim His works of righteousness, Or who will endure them?

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21This is what a man thinks Who is diminished in heart and without discernment, Who is deceived and thinks foolishly.

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22Listen to me, my son, and gain knowledge, And pay close attention to my words in your heart.

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23I will reveal instruction with balance, And I will proclaim knowledge with exactness.

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24By the judgment of the Lord, His works exist from the beginning, And from their creation, He determined their boundaries.

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25He ordered His works forever, And their principles according to their generations. They neither hunger nor grow weary, And they do not cease from their works.

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26Each does not afflict the one close to him, And they will never disobey His word.

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27After this the Lord looked upon the earth And filled it with His good things.

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28He covered its surface with the life of every living creature, And to it they will return again.

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