Ecclesiasticus 2
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
1My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
My son, if you come to serve the indwelling LORD, prepare your soul for temptation — for the testing of the state.
2Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
3Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
Cleave to Him, and depart not away, that you may be increased at your last end.
4Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
Whatever is brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed to a low estate — a humbled state.
5For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity — the pure good proved by the consuming heat of trial.
6Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
Believe in Him, and He will help you; order your way aright, and trust in Him.
7Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
You that fear the indwelling LORD, wait for His mercy; and go not aside, lest you fall.
8Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
You that fear the LORD, believe Him; and your reward shall not fail.
9Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
You that fear the LORD, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
10Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
Look at the generations of old — the order of states that went before — and see: did ever any trust in the LORD and was confounded? Or did any abide in His fear and was forsaken? Or whom did He ever despise that called upon Him?
11For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
For the indwelling LORD is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering and very pitiful, and forgives sins — errors — and saves in time of affliction.
12Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!
Woe to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner — the state in error — that goes two ways, ruled by two masters at once.
13Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.
Woe to him that is fainthearted! For he believes not; therefore shall he not be defended.
14Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
Woe to you that have lost patience! And what will you do when the indwelling LORD shall visit you — when the order confronts the state?
15They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.
They that fear the LORD will not disobey His Word — the divine Idea going forth — and they that love Him will keep His ways.
16They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
They that fear the LORD will seek what is well-pleasing to Him; and they that love Him shall be filled with the law — the written order of the divine life.
17They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,
They that fear the LORD will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in His sight,
18Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.
Saying: We will fall into the hands of the indwelling LORD, and not into the hands of men: for as His majesty is, so is His mercy.
Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.