Ecclesiasticus 19

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

1A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.

A labouring man that is given to drunkenness — to drinking his own increase unguarded — shall not be rich: and he that despises small things shall fall by little and little.

2Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.

Wine — the spiritual essence taken to excess — and women, the affection-faculties unruled, will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaves to harlots — affections sold to sense — will become impudent.

3Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.

Moths and worms shall have him as heritage — the slow corruption of the state — and a bold, sense-driven man shall be taken away.

4He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.

He that is hasty to give credit is light-minded; and he that errs shall offend against his own soul.

5Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.

Whoso takes pleasure in wickedness — in a state twisted from the order — shall be condemned: but he that resists the pleasures of sense crowns his life — sets the ruling state perfected over it.

6He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.

He that can rule his tongue — the speaking faculty — shall live without strife; and he that hates babbling shall have less evil.

7Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.

Rehearse not to another that which is told to you, and you shall fare never the worse.

8Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.

Whether it be to friend — an allied faculty — or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if you can without offence, reveal them not.

9For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.

For he heard and observed you, and when the time comes he will hate you.

10If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.

If you have heard a word, let it die with you; and be bold, it will not burst you.

11A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.

A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman — the affection-faculty — in labour of a child — a new state being born.

12As an arrow that sticketh in a man’s thigh, so is a word within a fool’s belly.

As an arrow that sticks in a man's thigh — the seat of natural strength — so is a word within a fool's inward parts.

13Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.

Admonish a friend, it may be he has not done it: and if he has done it, that he do it no more.

14Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.

Admonish your friend, it may be he has not said it: and if he has, that he speak it not again.

15Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.

Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.

16There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

There is one that slips in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that has not offended with his tongue?

17Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.

Admonish your neighbour before you threaten him; and, not being angry, give place to the law of the most High — the Source under His highest title.

18The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtaineth his love.

The fear of the indwelling LORD is the first step to be accepted of Him, and Wisdom obtains His love.

19The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.

The knowledge of the commandments of the indwelling LORD is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please Him shall receive the fruit of the Tree of Life — here, the tree of immortality.

20The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.

The fear of the indwelling LORD is all Wisdom; and in all Wisdom is the performance of the law — the written order of the divine life — and the knowledge of His all-power.

21If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.

If a servant — a serving faculty — say to his master, I will not do as it pleases you; though afterward he do it, he angers him that nourishes him.

22The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.

The knowledge of wickedness is not Wisdom, neither at any time is the counsel of error-bound states prudence.

23There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.

There is a wickedness, and the same is an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in Wisdom.

24He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.

He that has small understanding, and fears the Source, is better than one that has much wisdom of the outer kind, and transgresses the law of the most High.

25There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment.

There is an exquisite subtlety, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turns aside to make judgment appear crooked; and there is a wise man that sets things right in judgment.

26There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,

There is a wicked man that hangs down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,

27Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.

Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do you a mischief before you are aware.

28And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.

And if for want of power he is hindered from erring, yet when he finds opportunity he will do evil.

29A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.

A man may be known by his look, and one that has understanding by his countenance, when you meet him — the surface of awareness shows the state within.

30A man’s attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.

A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, show what he is.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.