Sirach 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 My son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood; force not the eyes of the needy to turn away.	1 My child, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalise the needy.
2 A hungry man grieve not, a needy man anger not;	2 Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait anyone in distress.
3 Do not exasperate the downtrodden; delay not to give to the needy.	3 Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.
4 A beggar in distress do not reject; avert not your face from the poor.	4 Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from the poor.
5 From the needy turn not your eyes, give no man reason to curse you;	5 Do not avert your eyes from the needy, give no one occasion to curse you;
6 For if in the bitterness of his soul he curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer.	6 for if someone curses you in distress, his Maker will give ear to the imprecation.
7 Endear yourself to the assembly; before a ruler bow your head.	7 Gain the love of the community, in the presence of the great bow your head.
8 Give a hearing to the poor man, and return his greeting with courtesy;	8 To the poor lend an ear, and courteously return the greeting.
9 Deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor; let not justice be repugnant to you.	9 Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgements.
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.	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 instructs her children and admonishes those who seek her.	11 Wisdom brings up her own children and cares for those who seek her.
12 He who loves her loves life; those who seek her out win her favor.	12 Whoever loves her loves life, those who seek her early wil be fil ed with joy.
13 He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.	13 Whoever possesses her wil inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
14 Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the LORD loves.	14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.
15 He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.	15 Whoever obeys her rules the nations, whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
16 If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her.	16 If he trusts himself to her he wil inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of 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.	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 she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets to him.	18 she then comes back to him on the straight road, makes him happy and reveals her secrets to him.
19 But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.	19 If he goes astray, however, she abandons him and leaves him to his own destruction.
20 Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame.	20 Take circumstances into account and beware of evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;
21 There is a sense of shame laden with guilt, and a shame that merits honor and respect.	21 for there is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that is honourable and gracious.
22 Show no favoritism to your own discredit; let no one intimidate you to your own downfall.	22 Do not be too severe on yourself, do not let shame lead you to ruin.
23 Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom;	23 Do not refrain from speaking when it will do good, and do not hide your wisdom;
24 For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue's rejoinder.	24 for your wisdom is made known by what you say, your erudition by the words you utter.
25 Never gainsay the truth, and struggle not against the rushing stream.	25 Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.
26 Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.	26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not struggle against the current of the river.
27 Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do so before rulers.	27 Do not grovel to the foolish, do not show partiality to the influential.
28 Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you.	28 Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God wil war on your side.
29 Be not surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds.	29 Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;
30 Be not a lion at home, nor sly and suspicious at work.	30 do not be like a lion at home, or cowardly towards your servants.
31 Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give.	31 Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet tight-fisted when the time comes to give back.