Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung by remorse for sin. Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has not lost hope.
Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold? What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.
To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own? None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness. If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.
Use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can; Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time. Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.
Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you. Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot? Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.
All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die. As with the leaves that grow on a vigorous tree: one falls off and another sprouts-- So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another is born. All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him.
Sirach 14:1-7, 11-19
Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold? What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.
To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own? None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness. If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.
Use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can; Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time. Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.
Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you. Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot? Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.
All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die. As with the leaves that grow on a vigorous tree: one falls off and another sprouts-- So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another is born. All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him.
Sirach 14:1-7, 11-19