Sirach 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.	1 Do no evil, and evil wil not befal you;
2 Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.	2 shun wrong, and it wil avoid you.
3 My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.	3 My child, do not sow in the furrows of wickedness, for fear you have to reap them seven times over.
4 Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.	4 Do not ask the Lord for the highest place, or the king for a seat of honour.
5 justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.	5 Do not parade your uprightness before the Lord, or your wisdom 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 scheme to be appointed judge, for fear you should not be strong enough to stamp out injustice,for fear of being swayed by someone influential and so of risking the loss of your integrity.
7 Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.	7 Do not wrong the general body of citizens and so lower yourself in popular esteem.
8 Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.	8 Do not be drawn to sin twice over, for you wil not go unpunished even once.
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 say, 'God will be impressed by my numerous offerings; when I sacrifice to God Most High, he isbound to accept.'
10 Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.	10 Do not be hesitant in prayer; do not neglect to give alms.
11 Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.	11 Do not laugh at someone who is sad of heart, for he who brings low can lift up high.
12 Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.	12 Do not make up lies against your brother, nor against a friend either.
13 Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.	13 Mind you tel no lies, for no good can come of it.
14 Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.	14 Do not talk too much at the gathering of elders, and do not repeat yourself at your prayers.
15 Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.	15 Do not shirk tiring jobs or farm work, 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 swell the ranks of sinners, remember that the retribution wil not delay.
17 Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.	17 Be very humble, since the recompense for the godless is fire and worms.
18 Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.	18 Do not barter a friend away for the sake of profit, nor a true brother for the gold of Ophir.
19 Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.	19 Do not turn against a wise and good wife; her gracious presence is worth more than gold.
20 Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.	20 Do not il -treat a slave who is an honest worker, or a wage-earner who is devoted to you.
21 Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.	21 Love an intel igent slave with al your heart, and do not deny such a slave his freedom.
22 Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.	22 Have you cattle? Look after them; if they are making you a profit, keep them.
23 Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.	23 Have you children? Educate them, from childhood make them bow the neck.
24 Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.	24 Have you daughters? Take care of their bodies, but do not be over-indulgent.
25 Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.	25 Marry a daughter off, and you have finished a great work; but give her to a man of sense.
26 Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.	26 Have you a wife to your liking? Do not turn her out; but if you do not love her, never trust her.
27 Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.	27 With al your heart honour your father, never forget the birthpangs of your mother.
28 Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?	28 Remember that you owe your birth to them; how can you repay them for what they have done for you?
29 Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.	29 With al your soul, fear the Lord and revere his priests.
30 Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.	30 With al your might love him who made you, and do not abandon 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 Fear the Lord and honour the priest and give him the portion enjoined on you: first-fruits, sacrifice ofreparation, shoulder-gift, sanctification sacrifice, first-fruits of the holy things.
32 And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.	32 And also give generously to the poor, so that your blessing may lack nothing.
33 A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.	33 Let your generosity extend to al the living, do not withhold it even from the dead.
34 Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.	34 Do not turn your back on those who weep, but share the grief of the grief-stricken.
35 Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.	35 Do not shrink from visiting the sick; in this way you wil make yourself loved.
36 Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.	36 In everything you do, remember your end, and you wil never sin.