Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 7

¹ Do no evil, and evil will not befall you;

² shun wrong, and it will avoid you.

³ Son, do not sow in the furrows of wrong-doing, or you may reap it seven times over.

⁴ Do not ask the Lord for the highest place, or the king for a seat of honour.

⁵ Do not parade your virtue before the Lord, or your wisdom before the king.

⁶ Do not scheme to be appointed judge, in case you are not strong enough to stamp out injustice, in case you let yourself be swayed by an influential man, and so risk the loss of your integrity.

⁷ Do not wrong the general body of citizens and so lower yourself in popular esteem.

⁸ Do not be drawn to sin twice over, for you will not go unpunished even once.

⁹ Do not say, ‘God will consider the great number of my gifts; when I make my offerings to the Most High God he will accept them’.

¹⁰ Do not be impatient in prayer; do not neglect to give alms.

¹¹ Do not laugh at a man when he is sad of heart, for he who brings him low can lift him high.

¹² Do not draw up a lying indictment against your brother, do not do it against a friend either.

¹³ Mind you tell no lies, for no good can come of it.

¹⁴ Do not make long-winded speeches in the gathering of elders, and do not repeat yourself at your prayers.

¹⁵ Do not shirk wearisome labour, or farm work, which the Most High created.

¹⁶ Do not swell the ranks of the sinners, remember that the wrath will not delay.

¹⁷ Be very humble, since the punishment for the godless is fire and worms.

¹⁸ Do not barter a friend for profit, nor a real brother for the gold of Ophir.

¹⁹ Do not turn against a wise and good wife, for her charm is worth more than gold.

²⁰ Do not ill-treat a slave who is an honest worker, or a wage-earner who does his best for you.

²¹ Love an intelligent slave like your own self, and do not deny him his freedom.

²² Have you cattle? Look after them; if they are making you a profit, keep them.

²³ Have you children? Educate them, make them bow the neck from childhood.

²⁴ Have you daughters? Take care of their bodies, but do not be over-indulgent.

²⁵ Marry a daughter off, and you have finished a great work; but give her to a man of sense.

²⁶ Have you a wife to your liking? Do not turn her out; but if you dislike her, never trust her.

²⁷ With all your heart honour your father, never forget the birthpangs of your mother.

²⁸ Remember that you owe your birth to them; how can you repay them for what they have done for you?

²⁹ With all your soul hold the Lord in awe, and revere his priests.

³⁰ With all your might love him who made you, and do not abandon his ministers.

³¹ Fear the Lord and honour the priest and give him the portion enjoined on you: first-fruits and sacrifices of reparation and the shoulder-gift, the sacrifice of sanctification, and first-fruits of the holy things.

³² Stretch your hand out also to the poor man, that your blessing may be perfect.

³³ Be generous in your gifts to all the living, do not withhold your favour even from the dead.

³⁴ Do not fail those who weep, but share the grief of the grief-stricken.

³⁵ Do not shrink from visiting the sick; in this way you will make yourself loved.

³⁶ In everything you do, remember your end, and you will never sin.