Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 4

¹ My son, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalise the needy.

² Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait a man in distress.

³ Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.

⁴ Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from a poor man.

⁵ Do not avert your eyes from the destitute, give no man occasion to curse you;

⁶ for if a man curses you in the bitterness of his soul, his maker will hear his imprecation.

⁷ Gain the love of the community, bow your head to a man of authority.

⁸ To the poor man lend an ear, and return his greeting courteously.

⁹ Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgements.

¹⁰ Be like a father to orphans, and as good as a husband to widows. And you will be like a son to the Most High, whose love for you will surpass your mother’s.

¹¹ Wisdom brings up her own sons, and cares for those who seek her.

¹² Whoever loves her loves life, those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.

¹³ Whoever holds her close will inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.

¹⁴ Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.

¹⁵ Whoever obeys her judges aright, and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

¹⁶ If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her;

¹⁷ for though she takes him at first through winding ways, bringing fear and faintness on him, plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him, and testing him with her ordeals,

¹⁸ in the end she will lead him back to the straight road, and reveal her secrets to him.

¹⁹ If he wanders away she will abandon him, and hand him over to his fate.

²⁰ My son, bide your time and be on your guard against evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;

²¹ for there is a shame that leads to sin, as well as a shame that is honourable and gracious.

²² Do not show partiality, to your own detriment, or deference, to your own downfall.

²³ Do not refrain from speech at an opportune time, and do not hide your wisdom;

²⁴ for wisdom shall be recognised in speech, and instruction by what the tongue utters.

²⁵ Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.

²⁶ Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not strive against the current of a river.

²⁷ Do not grovel to a foolish man, do not show partiality to a man of influence.

²⁸ Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God will war on your side.

²⁹ Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;

³⁰ do not be like a lion at home, or a coward before your servants.

³¹ Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet closed when the time comes to give back.

¹ My son, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalise the needy.

² Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait a man in distress.

³ Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.

⁴ Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from a poor man.

⁵ Do not avert your eyes from the destitute, give no man occasion to curse you;

⁶ for if a man curses you in the bitterness of his soul, his maker will hear his imprecation.

⁷ Gain the love of the community, bow your head to a man of authority.

⁸ To the poor man lend an ear, and return his greeting courteously.

⁹ Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgements.

¹⁰ Be like a father to orphans, and as good as a husband to widows. And you will be like a son to the Most High, whose love for you will surpass your mother’s.

¹¹ Wisdom brings up her own sons, and cares for those who seek her.

¹² Whoever loves her loves life, those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.

¹³ Whoever holds her close will inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.

¹⁴ Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.

¹⁵ Whoever obeys her judges aright, and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

¹⁶ If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her;

¹⁷ for though she takes him at first through winding ways, bringing fear and faintness on him, plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him, and testing him with her ordeals,

¹⁸ in the end she will lead him back to the straight road, and reveal her secrets to him.

¹⁹ If he wanders away she will abandon him, and hand him over to his fate.

²⁰ My son, bide your time and be on your guard against evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;

²¹ for there is a shame that leads to sin, as well as a shame that is honourable and gracious.

²² Do not show partiality, to your own detriment, or deference, to your own downfall.

²³ Do not refrain from speech at an opportune time, and do not hide your wisdom;

²⁴ for wisdom shall be recognised in speech, and instruction by what the tongue utters.

²⁵ Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.

²⁶ Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not strive against the current of a river.

²⁷ Do not grovel to a foolish man, do not show partiality to a man of influence.

²⁸ Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God will war on your side.

²⁹ Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;

³⁰ do not be like a lion at home, or a coward before your servants.

³¹ Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet closed when the time comes to give back. JB SIRACH Chapter 5