Ecclesiasticus 33

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

1There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.

There shall no evil happen unto him that fears the indwelling LORD; but in temptation even again He will deliver him.

2A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.

A wise man hates not the law; but he that is a hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm — a state tossed with no ruling hand within it.

3A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.

A man of understanding trusts in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle — the inner voice that answers.

4Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.

Prepare what to say, and so you shall be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.

5The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.

The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree — turning ever, going nowhere settled.

6A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.

A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neighs under every one that sits upon him.

7Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?

Why does one day excel another, when all the light of every day in the year is of the sun — of the greater light?

8By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.

By the knowledge of the indwelling LORD they were distinguished: and He altered seasons and feasts — the ordered changes of state, and their appointed times.

9Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.

Some of them He has made high days, and hallowed them — set them apart to the divine order — and some of them He has made ordinary days.

10And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:

And all men are from the ground, and Adam — the Complete Man in his first, natural state — was created of earth — of the ground of consciousness.

11In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.

In much knowledge the indwelling LORD has divided them, and made their ways diverse.

12Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.

Some of them He has blessed and exalted, and some of them He sanctified, and set near Himself: but some of them He has cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places — each state standing where its own nature places it under His order; the cursing is the order naming a state given over to the disorder it chose, never the Source authoring its evil.

13As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.

As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of Him that made him, to render to them as likes Him best.

14Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.

Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the error-bound, and the error-bound against the godly — the pairs of opposites stand in the order of the world as it is given; the Source authors the order of the pairs, never evil as His work.

15So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.

So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.

16I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.

I awaked up last of all, as one that gathers after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the indwelling LORD I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.

17Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.

Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.

18Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.

Hear me, O you great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, you rulers of the congregation.

19Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.

Give not your son and wife, your brother and friend, power over you while you live, and give not your goods to another: lest it repent you, and you intreat for the same again.

20As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.

As long as you live and have breath in you, give not yourself over to any.

21For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.

For better it is that your children should seek to you, than that you should stand to their courtesy.

22In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.

In all your works keep to yourself the preeminence; leave not a stain in your honour.

23At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.

At the time when you shall end your days, and finish your life, distribute your inheritance.

24Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.

Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.

25If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.

If you set your servant to labour, you shall find rest: but if you let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.

26A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.

A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant — the hard consequences that bend a serving faculty gone wrong.

27Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.

Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teaches much evil.

28Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.

Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.

29But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.

But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.

30If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.

If you have a servant, let him be unto you as yourself, because you have bought him with a price.

31If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?

If you have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for you have need of him, as of your own soul: if you entreat him evil, and he runs from you, which way will you go to seek him?

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