Sirach 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.	1 Do no evil, and evil will not overtake you;
2 Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.	2 avoid wickedness, and it will turn aside from you.
3 My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.	3 Sow not in the furrows of injustice, lest you harvest it sevenfold.
4 Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.	4 Seek not from the LORD authority, nor from the king a place of honor.
5 justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.	5 Parade not your justice before the Lord, and before the king flaunt not your wisdom.
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 Seek not to become a judge if you have not strength to root out crime, Or you will show favor to the ruler and mar your integrity.
7 Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.	7 Be guilty of no evil before the city's populace, nor disgrace yourself before the assembly.
8 Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.	8 Do not plot to repeat a sin; not even for one will you 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 Say not: "He will appreciate my many gifts; the Most High will accept my offerings."
10 Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.	10 Be not impatient in prayers, and neglect not the giving of alms.
11 Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.	11 Laugh not at an embittered man; be mindful of him who exalts and humbles.
12 Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.	12 Plot no mischief against your brother, nor against your friend and companion.
13 Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.	13 Delight not in telling lie after lie, for it never results in good.
14 Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.	14 Thrust not yourself into the deliberations of princes, and repeat not the words of your prayer.
15 Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.	15 Hate not laborious tasks, nor farming, which was ordained by the Most High.
16 Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.	16 Do not esteem yourself better than your fellows; remember, his wrath will not delay.
17 Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.	17 More and more, humble your pride; what awaits man is worms.
18 Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.	18 Barter not a friend for money, nor a dear brother for the gold of Ophir.
19 Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.	19 Dismiss not a sensible wife; a gracious wife is more precious than corals.
20 Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.	20 Mistreat not a servant who faithfully serves, nor a laborer who devotes himself to his task.
21 Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.	21 Let a wise servant be dear to you as your own self; refuse him not his freedom.
22 Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.	22 If you have livestock, look after them; if they are dependable, keep them.
23 Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.	23 If you have sons, chastise them; bend their necks from childhood.
24 Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.	24 If you have daughters, keep them chaste, and be not indulgent to them.
25 Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.	25 Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great task; but give her to a worthy man.
26 Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.	26 If you have a wife, let her not seem odious to you; but where there is ill-feeling, trust her not.
27 Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.	27 With your whole heart honor your father; your mother's birthpangs forget not.
28 Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?	28 Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?
29 Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.	29 With all your soul, fear God, revere his priests.
30 Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.	30 With all your strength, love your Creator, forsake not his ministers.
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 Honor God and respect the priest; give him his portion as you have been commanded: First fruits and contributions, due sacrifices and holy offerings.
32 And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.	32 To the poor man also extend your hand, that your blessing may be complete;
33 A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.	33 Be generous to all the living, and withhold not your kindness from the dead.
34 Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.	34 Avoid not those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn;
35 Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.	35 Neglect not to visit the sick-- for these things you will be loved.
36 Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.	36 In whatever you do, remember your last days, and you will never sin.