Sirach 33:7-19
-
7 Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
-
8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
-
9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
-
10 And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
-
11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
-
12 Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
-
13 As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
-
14 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
-
15 So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
-
16 I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
-
17 Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
-
18 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
-
19 Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.