The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 38 -

Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and artificers.

Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.

For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king.

The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.

The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.

Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?

And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.

With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains.

Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,

My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.

Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.

Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.

Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.

There is a time when in their hands there is good success.

For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.

He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.

My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.

Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.

For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.

In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.

Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end.

Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.

Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee.

When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.

The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.

How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?

He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.

So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:

The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:

So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;

He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:

All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work.

Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:

They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.

But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.

Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and artificers.

Honor a physician according to your need with the honors due to him, for truly the Lord has created him.

For healing comes from the Most High, and he shall receive a gift from the king.

The skill of the physician will lift up his head. He will be admired in the sight of great men.

The Lord created medicines out of the earth. A prudent man will not despise them.

Wasn’t water made sweet with wood, that its power might be known?

He gave men skill that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.

With them he heals and takes away pain.

With these, the pharmacist makes a mixture. God’s works won’t be brought to an end. From him, peace is upon the face of the earth.

My son, in your sickness don’t be negligent, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.

Put away wrong doing, and direct your hands in righteousness. Cleanse your heart from all sin.

Give a sweet savor and a memorial of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, according to your means.

Then give place to the physician, for truly the Lord has created him. Don’t let him leave you, for you need him.

There is a time when in recovery is in their hands.

For they also shall ask the Lord to prosper them in diagnosis and in healing for the maintenance of life.

He who sins before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the physician.

My son, let your tears fall over the dead, and as one who suffers grievously, begin lamentation. Wind up his body with due honor. Don’t neglect his burial.

Make bitter weeping and make passionate wailing. Let your mourning be according to his merit, for one day or two, lest you be spoken evil of; and so be comforted for your sorrow.

For from sorrow comes death. Sorrow of heart saps one’s strength.

In calamity, sorrow also remains. A poor man’s life is grievous to the heart.

Don’t give your heart to sorrow. Put it away, remembering the end.

Don’t forget it, for there is no returning again. You do him no good, and you would harm yourself.

Remember his end, for so also will yours be: yesterday for me, and today for you.

When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest. Be comforted for him when his spirit departs from him.

The wisdom of the scribe comes by the opportunity of leisure. He who has little business can become wise.

How could he become wise who holds the plow, who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied in their labors, and who mostly talks about bulls?

He will set his heart upon turning his furrows. His lack of sleep is to give his heifers their fodder.

So is every craftsman and master artisan who passes his time by night as by day, those who cut engravings of signets. His diligence is to make great variety. He sets his heart to preserve likeness in his portraiture, and is careful to finish his work.

So too is the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the unwrought iron. The smoke of the fire will waste his flesh. He toils in the heat of the furnace. The noise of the hammer deafens his ear. His eyes are upon the pattern of the object. He will set his heart upon perfecting his works. He will be careful to adorn them perfectly.

So is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel around with his feet, who is always anxiously set at his work. He produces his handiwork in quantity.

He will fashion the clay with his arm and will bend its strength in front of his feet. He will apply his heart to finish the glazing. He will be careful to clean the kiln.

All these put their trust in their hands. Each becomes skillful in his own work.

Without these no city would be inhabited. Men wouldn’t reside as foreigners or walk up and down there.

They won’t be sought for in the council of the people. They won’t mount on high in the assembly. They won’t sit on the seat of the judge. They won’t understand the covenant of judgment. Neither will they declare instruction and judgment. They won’t be found where parables are.

But they will maintain the fabric of the age. Their prayer is in the handiwork of their craft.