1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!
2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!
3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.
4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.
5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.
6 The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.
7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.
8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:
9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.
10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.
11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.
12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.
13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.
14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?
15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.
16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.
17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;
18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;
19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;
20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot;
21 And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man’s wife.
22 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;
23 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets.
24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men.
1 o mors quam amara est memoria tua
homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis
2 viro quieto et cuius viae directae sunt in omnibus
et adhuc valenti accipere cibum
3 o mors bonum est iudicium tuum
homini indigenti et qui minoratur viribus
4 defecto aetate et cui de omnibus cura est
et incredibili qui perdit sapientiam
5 noli metuere iudicium mortis
memento quae ante te fuerunt et quae superventura sunt tibi
hoc iudicium a Domino omni carni
6 et quid superveniet in beneplacita Altissimi
sive decem sive centum sive mille anni
7 non est enim in inferno accusatio vitae
8 filii abominationum fiunt filii peccatorum
et qui conversantur secus domos impiorum
9 filiorum peccatorum periet hereditas
et cum semine illorum adsiduitas obprobrii
10 de patre impio queruntur filii
quoniam propter illum sunt in obprobrio
11 vae vobis viri impii qui dereliquistis legem Domini altissimi
12 et si nati fueritis in maledictione nascemini
et si mortui fueritis in maledictione erit pars vestra
13 omnia quae de terra sunt in terram convertentur
sic impii a maledicto in perditionem
14 luctus hominum in corpore ipsorum
nomen autem impiorum delebitur
15 curam habe de bono nomine
hoc enim magis permanebit tibi
quam mille thesauri magni pretiosi
16 bonae vitae numerus dierum
bonum autem nomen permanebit in aevo
17 disciplinam in pace conservate filii
sapientia enim abscondita et thesaurus occultus
quae utilitas in utrisque
18 melior est homo qui abscondit stultitiam suam
quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam
19 verumtamen reveremini in his quae procedunt de ore meo
20 non est enim bonum omnem inreverentiam observare
et non omnia omnibus beneplacent in fide
21 erubescite matrem et patrem de fornicatione
et a praesidente et potente de mendacio
22 a principe et iudice de delicto
a synagoga et plebe de iniquitate
23 a socio et amico de iniustitia
de loco in quo habitas
24 de furto
de veritate Dei et testamento
de discubitu in panibus et ab offuscatione dati et accepti
25 a salutantibus de silentio
a respectu mulieris fornicariae
et ab aversione vultus cognati
26 ne avertas faciem a proximo tuo
ab auferendo partem et non restituendo
27 ne respicias mulierem alieni viri et ne scruteris ancillam eius
neque steteris ad lectum eius
28 ab amicis de sermonibus inproperii
et cum dederis ne inproperes