Sirach 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.	1 My child, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalise the needy.
2 Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.	2 Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait anyone in distress.
3 Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.	3 Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.
4 Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.	4 Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from the poor.
5 Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:	5 Do not avert your eyes from the needy, give no one occasion to curse you;
6 For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.	6 for if someone curses you in distress, his Maker will give ear to the imprecation.
7 Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.	7 Gain the love of the community, in the presence of the great bow your head.
8 Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.	8 To the poor lend an ear, and courteously return the greeting.
9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment.	9 Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgements.
10 Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.	10 Be like a father to the fatherless and as good as a husband to their mothers. And you wil be like a childto the Most High, who will love you more than your own mother does.
11 Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek her.	11 Wisdom brings up her own children and cares for those who seek her.
12 He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.	12 Whoever loves her loves life, those who seek her early wil be fil ed with joy.
13 He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.	13 Whoever possesses her wil inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
14 They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the Lord doth love.	14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.
15 Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.	15 Whoever obeys her rules the nations, whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
16 If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.	16 If he trusts himself to her he wil inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her;
17 For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her laws.	17 for though she takes him at first through winding ways, bringing fear and faintness on him, trying himout with her discipline til she can trust him, and testing him with her ordeals,
18 Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.	18 she then comes back to him on the straight road, makes him happy and reveals her secrets to him.
19 But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.	19 If he goes astray, however, she abandons him and leaves him to his own destruction.
20 Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul.	20 Take circumstances into account and beware of evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;
21 For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.	21 for there is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that is honourable and gracious.
22 Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.	22 Do not be too severe on yourself, do not let shame lead you to ruin.
23 And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.	23 Do not refrain from speaking when it will do good, and do not hide your wisdom;
24 For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.	24 for your wisdom is made known by what you say, your erudition by the words you utter.
25 In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.	25 Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.
26 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.	26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not struggle against the current of the river.
27 Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.	27 Do not grovel to the foolish, do not show partiality to the influential.
28 Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.	28 Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God wil war on your side.
29 Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.	29 Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;
30 Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.	30 do not be like a lion at home, or cowardly towards your servants.
31 Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.	31 Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet tight-fisted when the time comes to give back.