“Do not say.
‘What do I need?
What further benefit can be mine?’
Do not say.
‘I have enough.
What harm can come to me now?’
In the day of prosperity,
Adversity is forgotten.
In the day of adversity,
Prosperity is not remembered.
It is easy for the Lord,
On the day of death,
To reward individuals
According to their conduct.
An hour’s misery
Makes one forget past delights.
At the close of one’s life.
One’s deeds are revealed.
Call no one happy
Before his death.
By how he ends,
A person becomes known.”
Sirach warns us about judgment day. Do not say that you need anything. Do not say that you have enough, that no one can hurt you. You have to always remember that in the days of your adversity, you may forget about your days of prosperity. The reverse is also true. At the time of your prosperity, you may forget about the days of your adversity. The Lord can quickly reward people according to their conduct, at the day of their death. Sometimes a little misery makes you forget the great delights that you have enjoyed. All your deeds will be revealed at the time of your death. No one is truly happy before they die. A person will be known by how they came to their death. A good life leads to a good death.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 