---
title: "Sirach 40 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/sirach/40/
description: "The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear. Sirach 40 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Sirach 40

Sirach 40 is chapter 40 of 51 in the Book of Sirach. Here are all 32 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Sirach 40 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. A great occupation was created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their departure from their mother’s womb, even until the day of their burial into the mother of all:
2. their thoughts, and the fears of their heart, their imagined expectations, and the day of their end,
3. from him who sits upon a glorious throne, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,
4. from him who wears hyacinth and bears a crown, even to him who is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, tumult, restlessness, and the fear of death, continual anger and contention.
5. And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changes his knowledge.
6. There is little or no rest, and sleep is taken from him, as if on a day of keeping watch.
7. He is disturbed by a vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in a day of warfare. In the time of his salvation, he rose up and wondered that there was no fear.
8. This is so with all flesh, from man even to cattle, but upon sinners it is seven times as great.
9. Add to this: death, bloodshed, contention, and the spear, oppression, famine, and affliction, and scourges.
10. All these things have been created because of iniquity, and it is due to iniquity that the great flood was made.
11. All things that are of the earth shall return to the earth, and all waters shall return to the sea.
12. All bribery and iniquity will be wiped away, but faith shall stand forever.
13. The substance of the unjust will dry up like a river, and will pass away with a noise like loud thunder in a rainstorm.
14. When he opens his hands, he will rejoice. So will transgressors pass away at the consummation.
15. The descendants of the impious will not produce many branches, for they may be compared to dirty roots at the edge of a rock.
16. The weeds, which grow above every water and beside the banks of the river, will be uprooted before all the grass.
17. Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and mercy continues for eternity.
18. The life of a worker, when content with what is sufficient, will become sweet, and in it you will find a treasure.
19. Sons, and the building of a city, will establish a name, but an immaculate wife will be ranked above these things.
20. Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.
21. The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant word is above them both.
22. Your eye desires elegance and beauty, but verdant fields are above these things.
23. A friend and a companion meet one another in time, but above them both is a wife with her husband.
24. Brothers are a help in time of tribulation, but mercy will liberate, more so than they will.
25. Gold and silver provide a firm position for the feet, but well-spoken counsel is above them both.
26. Ability and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is above these things.
27. There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and it has no need to ask for assistance.
28. The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessings, and they have covered it above all glory.
29. Son, in your lifetime you should not be indigent, for it is better to die than to be destitute.
30. The life of him who looks to another man’s table should not be thought of as a way of life. For he feeds his life with another man’s food.
31. But a disciplined and well-taught man will take care of himself.
32. Scarcity will seem sweet to the mouth of the imprudent, but a fire will burn in his belly.

## Sirach 40 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et jugum grave super filios Adam, a die exitus de ventre matris eorum usque in diem sepulturæ in matrem omnium.
2. Cogitationes eorum, et timores cordis, adinventio exspectationis, et dies finitionis,
3. a residente super sedem gloriosam, usque ad humiliatum in terra et cinere:
4. ab eo qui utitur hyacintho et portat coronam, usque ad eum qui operitur lino crudo: furor, zelus, tumultus, fluctuatio, et timor mortis, iracundia perseverans, et contentio:
5. et in tempore refectionis in cubili, somnus noctis immutat scientiam ejus.
6. Modicum tamquam nihil in requie, et ab eo in somnis, quasi in die respectus.
7. Conturbatus est in visu cordis sui, tamquam qui evaserit in die belli: in tempore salutis suæ exsurrexit, et admirans ad nullum timorem:
8. cum omni carne, ab homine usque ad pecus, et super peccatores septuplum.
9. Ad hæc mors, sanguis, contentio, et rhomphæa, oppressiones, fames, et contritio, et flagella:
10. super iniquos creata sunt hæc omnia: et propter illos factus est cataclysmus.
11. Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur, et omnes aquæ in mare revertentur.
12. Omne munus et iniquitas delebitur, et fides in sæculum stabit.
13. Substantiæ injustorum sicut fluvius siccabuntur, et sicut tonitruum magnum in pluvia personabunt.
14. In aperiendo manus suas lætabitur: sic prævaricatores in consummatione tabescent.
15. Nepotes impiorum non multiplicabunt ramos: et radices immundæ super cacumen petræ sonant.
16. Super omnem aquam viriditas, et ad oram fluminis ante omne fœnum evelletur.
17. Gratia sicut paradisus in benedictionibus, et misericordia in sæculum permanet.
18. Vita sibi sufficientis operarii condulcabitur, et in ea invenies thesaurum.
19. Filii et ædificatio civitatis confirmabit nomen: et super hæc mulier immaculata computabitur.
20. Vinum et musica lætificant cor: et super utraque dilectio sapientiæ.
21. Tibiæ et psalterium suavem faciunt melodiam: et super utraque lingua suavis.
22. Gratiam et speciem desiderabit oculus tuus: et super hæc virides sationes.
23. Amicus et sodalis in tempore convenientes, et super utrosque mulier cum viro.
24. Fratres in adjutorium in tempore tribulationis: et super eos misericordia liberabit.
25. Aurum et argentum est constitutio pedum: et super utrumque consilium beneplacitum.
26. Facultates et virtutes exaltant cor, et super hæc timor Domini.
27. Non est in timore Domini minoratio: et non est in eo inquirere adjutorium.
28. Timor Domini sicut paradisus benedictionis, et super omnem gloriam operuerunt illum.
29. Fili, in tempore vitæ tuæ ne indigeas: melius est enim mori quam indigere.
30. Vir respiciens in mensam alienam, non est vita ejus in cogitatione victus: alit enim animam suam cibis alienis:
31. vir autem disciplinatus et eruditus custodiet se.
32. In ore imprudentis condulcabitur inopia, et in ventre ejus ignis ardebit.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).