Ben Sira 38:21-31

21 Forget it not, for there is no turning back; thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.
22 "Remember my judgment, for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and today for thee."
23 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him when his spirit is departed from him.
24 The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure, and he that hath little business shall become wise.
25 How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labors, and whose talk is of bullocks?
26 He giveth his mind to make furrows, and is diligent to give the cows fodder.
27 So every carpenter and workmaster that laboreth night and day, and they that cut and engrave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to lifelike imagery, and watch to finish a work.
28 The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapor 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.
29 So doth the potter, sitting at his work and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;
30 he fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength toward his feet; he applieth himself to glaze it over, and he is diligent to make clean the furnace.
31 All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his work.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.