For all of the quotes below, I have chosen to use the King James Version of the Apocrypha.
The book of Jesus the Son of Sirach speaks forcefully to the false impressions that many are suffering under today because of dreams and visions:
The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools. Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face. Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come? Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail. If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them. (Sirach 34:1-7)
This passage is certainly needed in a day when this kind of thing is rampant and so many are following their dream-induced delusions.
A wonderful section concerning sorrow is also found in Sirach:
My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial. Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness. For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength. In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart. Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end. Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself. Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him. (38:16-23)
And this one on death is excellent for a funeral setting:
O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat! O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience! Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh. And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years. (Sir 41:1-4)
Also useful in the same type of setting is the passage from Wisdom 3: 1-9:
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.
The book of Second Maccabees (7: 1-42) contains the story of a mother and her seven sons who were martyred rather than give up their faith. It is a great encouragement to those who are facing persecution and the temptation to give up the fight.
In Tobit 13:1-17 there is a very beautiful prayer by the title character. The additions to the book of Esther add much to the story and make it more understandable and readable by filling in some information that is left out of the Hebrew version.
These are only a few of the magnificent things contained in the Apocrypha. It is replete with sage wisdom, inspiring stories, and edifying words. I am just sorry that it took me so long to discover all the treasures that were stored there all along, if I had only taken time and interest to look.
