Sirach 42

¹ Betere is deth than bittir lijf, and euerlastinge reste is betere than siknesse dwellynge contynueli. ² Goodis hid in a closid mouth ben as settyngis forth of metis set aboute a sepulcre. ³ What schal sacrifice profite to an idol? for whi it schal not ete, nether schal smelle. ⁴ So he that is dryuun awei fro the Lord, and berith the medis of wickidnesse, ⁵ seynge with iyen and weilynge inwardli, as a geldynge biclippynge a virgyn, and siyyynge. ⁶ Yyue thou not sorewe to thi soule, and turmente not thi silf in thi counsel. ⁷ Mirthe of herte, this is the lijf of man, and is tresour of hoolynesse with outen failyng; and ful out ioiyng of a man is long lijf. ⁸ Haue thou mercy on thi soule, and plese thou God; and holde togidere and gadere togidere thin herte in the hoolynesse of hym, and putte fer awei sorewe fro thee. ⁹ For whi sorewe hath slayn many men; and noon heelthe is ther ynne. ¹⁰ Enuye and wrathfulnesse schulen make lesse daies; and thouytys schulen brynge eldnesse bifore the tyme. ¹¹ A schynynge herte is good in metis; for whi meetis therof ben maad diligentli. ¹³ Wakyng of oneste schal make fleischis to faile; and thouyt therof schal take awei sleep. ¹⁴ Thouyt of bifore knowyng turneth awey wit; and greuouse siknesse makith sobre the soule. ¹⁵ A ryche man trauelide in the gaderyng of catel; and in his reste he schal be fillyd with hise goodis. ¹⁶ A pore man trauelide in decreessyng of lijflode; and in the ende he is maad nedi. ¹⁷ He that loueth gold, schal not be iustified; and he that sueth wastyng, schal be fillid therof. ¹⁸ Many men ben youun in to the fallyngis of gold; and the perdicioun of hem was maad in the feirnesse therof. ¹⁹ A tre of offencioun is the gold of hem that maken sacrifice; wo to hem that suen it, and ech vnprudent man schal perische ther ynne. ²⁰ Blissid is a riche man, which is foundun with out wem; and that yede not aftir gold, nether hopide in money, and tresouris. ²¹ Who is this, and we schulen preyse hym? for he dide merueils in his lijf. ²² Which is preued ther ynne, and is foundun perfit, and euerlastynge glorye schal be to hym? which myyte trespasse, and trespasside not, and do yuels, and dide not. ²³ Therfor hise goodis ben stablischid in the Lord; and al the chirche of seyntis schal telle out hise almesdedis. ²⁴ Thou hast sete at a greet boord; opene thou not firste thi cheke on it. ²⁵ Seie thou not, whether tho ben many thingis, that ben on it.