Sirach 34

1 And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will not leave off till he hath kindled a fire. 2 To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will not be weary of sinning unto the end. 3 Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his own soul, and saying: Who seeth me? 4 Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and no man seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not remember my sins. 5 And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things, for such a man’s fear driveth him from the fear of God, and the eyes of men fearing him: 6 And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most hidden parts. 7 For all things were known to the Lord God, before they were created: so also after they were perfected he beholdeth all things. 8 This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and he shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not, he shall be taken. 9 And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he understood not the fear of the Lord. 10 So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another: 11 For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath fornicated in adultery, and hath gotten her children of another man. 12 This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and inquisition shall be made of her children. 13 Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit. 14 She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy shall not be blotted out. 15 And they that remain shall know, that there is nothing better than the fear of God: and that there is nothing sweeter than to have regard to the commandments of the Lord. 16 It is great glory to follow the Lord: for length of days shall be received from him. 18 Wisdom shall praise her own self, and shall be honoured in God, and shall glory in the midst of her people, 19 And shall open her mouth in the churches of the most High, and shall glorify herself in the sight of his power, 20 And in the midst of her own people she shall be exalted, and shall be admired in the holy assembly. 21 And in the multitude of the elect she shall have praise, and among the blessed she shall be blessed, saying: 22 I came out of the mouth of the most High, the firstborn before all creatures: 23 I made that in the heavens there should rise light that never faileth, and as a cloud I covered all the earth: 24 I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in a pillar of a cloud. 25 I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated into the bottom of the deep, and have walked in the waves of the sea, 26 And have stood in all the earth: and in every people, 27 And in every nation I have had the chief rule: 28 And by my power I have trodden under my feet the hearts of all the high and low: and in all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord. 29 Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle, 30 And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. 31 From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.