Sirach 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.	1 Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of you.
2 Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.	2 Withdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from you.
3 My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.	3 Son, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfold.
4 Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.	4 Do not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the king.
5 justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.	5 You should not justify yourself before God, for he is the Knower of hearts. And by no means should you wish to seem wise before the king.
6 Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.	6 Do not seek to become a judge, unless you have sufficient strength to shatter iniquities. Otherwise, you might fear the face of the powerful, and so establish a scandal within your integrity.
7 Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.	7 You should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the people.
8 Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.	8 And you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunished.
9 Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.	9 Do not be cowardly in your soul.
10 Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.	10 You should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give alms.
11 Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.	11 You should not say: “God will look with favor on the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the most high God, he will accept my gift.”
12 Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.	12 You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing God.
13 Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.	13 Do not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friend.
14 Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.	14 Do not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not good.
15 Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.	15 Do not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayers.
16 Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.	16 You should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most High.
17 Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.	17 You should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplined.
18 Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.	18 Remember wrath. For it will not be delayed.
19 Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.	19 Humble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and worms.
20 Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.	20 Do not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of gold.
21 Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.	21 Do not choose to depart from a good and understanding wife, whom you have been allotted in the fear of the Lord. For the grace of her modesty is above gold.
22 Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.	22 You should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to you.
23 Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.	23 Let an understanding servant be loved by you like your own soul. You should not cheat him out of freedom, nor abandon him to destitution.
24 Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.	24 Are cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with you.
25 Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.	25 Are sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhood.
26 Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.	26 Are daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward them.
27 Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.	27 Give your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great work.
28 Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?	28 If a wife in accord with your soul is yours, you should not reject her. But do not entrust yourself to her who is hateful.
29 Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.	29 With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your mother.
30 Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.	30 Remember that you would not have been born except through them. And so, give back to them as they also have done for you.
31 Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.	31 With all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holy.
32 And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.	32 With all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministers.
33 A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.	33 Honor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strength.
34 Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.	34 Give them their portion, just as it has been commanded of you, from the first-fruits and from the purifications. And for your ignorant offenses, purify yourself with a smaller offering.
35 Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.	35 You should offer to the Lord the gift of your strength, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first-fruits of what is holy.
36 Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.	36 And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfected.
	37 A gift has grace in the sight of all the living, but you should not prohibit grace for the dead.
	38 You should not fail to console those who are weeping, nor to walk with those who are mourning.
	39 Do not let yourself be slow to visit the sick. For in this way, you will be confirmed in love.
	40 In all your works, remember your very end, and so you will not sin, unto eternity.