Sirach 4

¹ My son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood; force not the eyes of the needy to turn away.

² A hungry man grieve not, a needy man anger not;

³ Do not exasperate the downtrodden; delay not to give to the needy.

⁴ A beggar in distress do not reject; avert not your face from the poor.

⁵ From the needy turn not your eyes, give no man reason to curse you;

⁶ For if in the bitterness of his soul he curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer.

⁷ Endear yourself to the assembly; before a ruler bow your head.

⁸ Give a hearing to the poor man, and return his greeting with courtesy;

⁹ Deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor; let not justice be repugnant to you.

¹⁰ To the fatherless be as a father, and help their mother as a husband would; Thus will you be like a son to the Most High, and he will be more tender to you than a mother.

¹¹ Wisdom instructs her children and admonishes those who seek her.

¹² He who loves her loves life; those who seek her out win her favor.

¹³ He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.

¹⁴ Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the LORD loves.

¹⁵ He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.

¹⁶ If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her.

¹⁷ She walks with him as a stranger, and at first she puts him to the test; Fear and dread she brings upon him and tries him with her discipline; With her precepts she puts him to the proof, until his heart is fully with her.

¹⁸ Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets to him.

¹⁹ But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.

²⁰ Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame.

²¹ There is a sense of shame laden with guilt, and a shame that merits honor and respect.

²² Show no favoritism to your own discredit; let no one intimidate you to your own downfall.

²³ Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom;

²⁴ For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue's rejoinder.

²⁵ Never gainsay the truth, and struggle not against the rushing stream.

²⁶ Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.

²⁷ Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do so before rulers.

²⁸ Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you.

²⁹ Be not surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds.

³⁰ Be not a lion at home, nor sly and suspicious at work.

³¹ Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give.