Sirach 2

¹ My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.

² Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.

³ Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.

⁴ Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;

⁵ For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.

⁶ Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.

⁷ You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.

⁸ You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.

⁹ You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.

¹⁰ Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

¹¹ Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.

¹² Woe to craven hearts and drooping hands, to the sinner who treads a double path!

¹³ Woe to the faint of heart who trust not, who therefore will have no shelter!

¹⁴ Woe to you who have lost hope! what will you do at the visitation of the LORD?

¹⁵ Those who fear the LORD disobey not his words; those who love him keep his ways.

¹⁶ Those who fear the LORD seek to please him, those who love him are filled with his law.

¹⁷ Those who fear the LORD prepare their hearts and humble themselves before him.

¹⁸ Let us fall into the hands of the LORD and not into the hands of men, For equal to his majesty is the mercy that he shows.