Ecclesiasticus 18
How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.
King James Version
1He that liveth for ever created all things in general.
He who lives for ever — the eternal Source — created all things together, in their order.
2The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he,
The indwelling LORD alone is in right relation to the divine order, and there is none other but He,
3Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy things among them from profane.
Who governs the outer world with the palm of His hand, and all things obey His will: for He is the King of all — the ruling state over every state — by His power dividing the things set apart to the divine order from the common and profane.
4To whom hath he given power to declare his works? and who shall find out his noble acts?
To whom has He given power to declare His works? and who shall find out His noble acts?
5Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?
Who shall number the strength of His majesty? and who shall also tell out His mercies — the unmerited inflow of His life and favour?
6As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.
As for the wondrous works of the indwelling LORD, nothing may be taken from them, neither may anything be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.
7When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.
When a man has done, then he begins; and when he leaves off, then he shall be in doubt.
8What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is his evil?
What is man — the Complete Man in his mortal measure — and to what does he serve? what is his good, and what is his evil?
9The number of a man’s days at the most are an hundred years.
The number of a man's days at the most are a hundred years — a full cycle of the outer life, and no more.
10As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.
As a drop of water to the sea — the great subconscious — and a gravelstone beside the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.
11Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
Therefore the Source is patient with them, and pours forth His mercy upon them.
12He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion.
He saw and perceived their end to be in disorder; therefore He multiplied His compassion.
13The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.
The mercy of man is toward his neighbour — the nearby state; but the mercy of the indwelling LORD is upon all flesh: He reproves, and nurtures, and teaches and brings again, as a shepherd — the guiding care-faculty — his flock of thoughts.
14He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.
He has mercy on them that receive discipline — the training that forms a state — and that diligently seek after His judgments, the articulations of His order.
15My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.
My son — the newly forming state I instruct — blemish not your good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when you give anything.
16Shall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better than a gift.
Shall not the dew soften the heat? so is a word better than a gift.
17Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.
Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are found with a gracious man — a state open to the inflow of grace.
18A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.
A fool — the sense-bound state, closed to the divine order — will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious eats away the eyes.
19Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.
Learn before you speak, and use physick — the healing truth applied to the state — before you are sick.
20Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.
Before judgment examine yourself, and in the day of visitation — the crisis when the order confronts the state — you shall find mercy.
21Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.
Humble yourself before you are sick, and in the time of errors show repentance — the turning of the mind back to the order.
22Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified.
Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time, and defer not until the death-state to be set in right relation.
23Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.
Before you pray, prepare yourself; and be not as one that puts the indwelling LORD to the proof.
24Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.
Think upon the settling that shall be at the end, and the time when accounts are set right, when He shall turn away His face — His presence — from the state that refuses Him.
25When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.
When you have enough, remember the time of hunger: and when you are rich in outer substance, think upon poverty and need.
26From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.
From the morning — the dawning of a state — until the evening — its fading — the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the indwelling LORD.
27A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time.
A wise man will hold reverent fear in every thing, and in the day of error he will beware of offence: but a fool — the sense-bound state — will not observe the time.
28Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.
Every man of understanding knows Wisdom, and will give praise to him that found her.
29They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.
They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth choice parables — outer stories carrying inner truth.
30Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.
Go not after your lusts, but refrain yourself from your appetites — the cravings of the sense nature.
31If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.
If you give your soul the desires that please her, she will make you a laughingstock to your enemies — the adversarial states that malign you.
32Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.
Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expense thereof.
33Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.
Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when you have nothing in your purse: for you shall lie in wait for your own life, and be talked of in reproach.
Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.