Shirach — 41

Concerning Death

1 O death, how bitter is the reminder of you to one who lives at Shalum among his possessions, to a man without distractions, who is prosperous in everything, and who still has the vigor to enjoy his food!

2 O death, how welcome is your sentence to one who is in need and is failing in strength, very old and distracted over everything; to one who is contrary, and has lost his patience!

3 Do not fear the sentence of death; remember your former days and the end of life; this is the decree from  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH for all flesh,

4 and how can you reject the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life is for ten or a hundred or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about it in Hades.

The Fate of the Wicked

5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they frequent the haunts of the Unrighteous.

6 The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish, and on their posterity will be a perpetual reproach.

7 Children will blame an Unrighteous father, for they suffer reproach because of him.

8 Woe to you, Unrighteous men, who have forsaken the Turah (law) of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH!

9 When you are born, you are born to a curse; and when you die, a curse is your lot.

10 Whatever is from the dust returns to dust; so the Unrighteous go from curse to destruction.

11 The mourning of men is about their bodies, but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.

12 Have regard for your name, since it will remain for you longer than a thousand great stores of gold.

13 The days of a good life are numbered, but a good name endures for ever.

14 My children, observe instruction and be at Shalum; hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, what advantage is there in either of them?

A Series of Contrasts

15 Better is the man who hides his folly than the man who hides his wisdom.

16 Therefore show respect for my words: For it is good to retain every kind of shame, and not everything is confidently esteemed by every one.

17 Be ashamed of immorality, before your father or mother; and do not lie, before a prince or a ruler;

18 put off a transgression, before a judge or magistrate; and put off iniquity, before a congregation or the people; put off unjust dealing, before your partner or friend;

19 and put off theft, in the place where you live, Be ashamed before the truth of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and His covenant, Be ashamed of selfish behavior at meals, of rudeness in receiving and giving,

20 And put off silence, before those who greet you; put off looking at a woman who is a harlot,

21 and put off rejecting the appeal of a kinsman; put off taking away some one’s portion or gift, and put of gazing at another man’s wife;

22 Put off meddling with your maidservant and do not approach her bed; put off abusive words, before friends, and do not upbraid after making a gift;

23 Put off repeating and telling what you hear, and off revealing secrets, then you will show proper shame, and will find favor with every man.