Ecclesiasticus 40
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
1Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother’s womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.
Great travail is created for every man, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam — the Complete Man in his ground-state — from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.
2Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;
Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear of heart;
3From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;
From him that sits on a throne of glory — the seat of ruling authority filled with the Presence — unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes — the outer life at its lowest;
4From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.
From him that wears purple and a crown — a ruling state acknowledged — unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.
5Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.
Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep — the hidden state's rest — does change his knowledge.
6A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.
A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.
7When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing.
When all is safe, he awakes, and marvels that the fear was nothing.
8[Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.
Such things happen unto all flesh — every faculty in its sense life — both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners, the states that miss the mark.
9Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;
Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword — the cutting word turned to strife — calamities, famine, the lack-state, tribulation, and the scourge;
10These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.
These things are created for the wicked — the states twisted from the order — and for their sakes came the flood, the inundation of error that washes the old earth clean.
11All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.
All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again — the outer returns to the outer: and that which is of the waters, the unformed thoughts, returns into the sea, the great subconscious.
12All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.
All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.
13The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.
The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river — a current of life run dry — and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.
14While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.
While he opens his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought — the states that cross the order spend themselves in the spending.
15The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.
The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock — states begotten of a godless state, rooted in no living soil.
16The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.
The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass — the rank, unplanted growth taken before the tender thoughts of truth.
17Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.
Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden — the cultivated inner life at its most fruitful; and mercifulness endures for ever.
18To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.
To labour, and to be content with that a man has, is a sweet life: but he that finds a treasure is above them both.
19Children and the building of a city continue a man’s name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.
Children and the building of a city — an ordered company of states — continue a man's name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both, the affection-faculty without blame outlasting them.
20Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.
Wine — the spiritual essence of truth, its joy — and music rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.
21The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.
The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both — speech rightly ordered out-sings the instruments.
22Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.
Thine eye desires favour and beauty: but more than both, corn while it is green — grain, truth-substance still growing in the field.
23A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.
A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband — the affection and its ruling thought in true union.
24Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.
Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.
25Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.
Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.
26Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.
Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the indwelling LORD is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the indwelling LORD, and it needs not to seek help.
27The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.
The fear of the indwelling LORD is a fruitful garden — the cultivated inner life — and covers him above all glory.
28My son, lead not a beggar’s life; for better it is to die than to beg.
My son, lead not a beggar's life; for better it is to die than to beg.
29The life of him that dependeth on another man’s table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men’s meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.
The life of him that depends on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he pollutes himself with other men's meat — nourishment not his own state has earned or been given: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.
30Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.
Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire — the borrowed nourishment burning in the state that took it without order.
Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.