Sirach 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Do no evil, and evil will not overtake you;	1 Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of you.
2 avoid wickedness, and it will turn aside from you.	2 Withdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from you.
3 Sow not in the furrows of injustice, lest you harvest it sevenfold.	3 Son, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfold.
4 Seek not from the LORD authority, nor from the king a place of honor.	4 Do not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the king.
5 Parade not your justice before the Lord, and before the king flaunt not your wisdom.	5 You should not justify yourself before God, for he is the Knower of hearts. And by no means should you wish to seem wise before the king.
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.	6 Do not seek to become a judge, unless you have sufficient strength to shatter iniquities. Otherwise, you might fear the face of the powerful, and so establish a scandal within your integrity.
7 Be guilty of no evil before the city's populace, nor disgrace yourself before the assembly.	7 You should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the people.
8 Do not plot to repeat a sin; not even for one will you go unpunished.	8 And you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunished.
9 Say not: "He will appreciate my many gifts; the Most High will accept my offerings."	9 Do not be cowardly in your soul.
10 Be not impatient in prayers, and neglect not the giving of alms.	10 You should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give alms.
11 Laugh not at an embittered man; be mindful of him who exalts and humbles.	11 You should not say: “God will look with favor on the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the most high God, he will accept my gift.”
12 Plot no mischief against your brother, nor against your friend and companion.	12 You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing God.
13 Delight not in telling lie after lie, for it never results in good.	13 Do not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friend.
14 Thrust not yourself into the deliberations of princes, and repeat not the words of your prayer.	14 Do not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not good.
15 Hate not laborious tasks, nor farming, which was ordained by the Most High.	15 Do not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayers.
16 Do not esteem yourself better than your fellows; remember, his wrath will not delay.	16 You should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most High.
17 More and more, humble your pride; what awaits man is worms.	17 You should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplined.
18 Barter not a friend for money, nor a dear brother for the gold of Ophir.	18 Remember wrath. For it will not be delayed.
19 Dismiss not a sensible wife; a gracious wife is more precious than corals.	19 Humble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and worms.
20 Mistreat not a servant who faithfully serves, nor a laborer who devotes himself to his task.	20 Do not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of gold.
21 Let a wise servant be dear to you as your own self; refuse him not his freedom.	21 Do not choose to depart from a good and understanding wife, whom you have been allotted in the fear of the Lord. For the grace of her modesty is above gold.
22 If you have livestock, look after them; if they are dependable, keep them.	22 You should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to you.
23 If you have sons, chastise them; bend their necks from childhood.	23 Let an understanding servant be loved by you like your own soul. You should not cheat him out of freedom, nor abandon him to destitution.
24 If you have daughters, keep them chaste, and be not indulgent to them.	24 Are cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with you.
25 Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great task; but give her to a worthy man.	25 Are sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhood.
26 If you have a wife, let her not seem odious to you; but where there is ill-feeling, trust her not.	26 Are daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward them.
27 With your whole heart honor your father; your mother's birthpangs forget not.	27 Give your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great work.
28 Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?	28 If a wife in accord with your soul is yours, you should not reject her. But do not entrust yourself to her who is hateful.
29 With all your soul, fear God, revere his priests.	29 With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your mother.
30 With all your strength, love your Creator, forsake not his ministers.	30 Remember that you would not have been born except through them. And so, give back to them as they also have done for you.
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.	31 With all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holy.
32 To the poor man also extend your hand, that your blessing may be complete;	32 With all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministers.
33 Be generous to all the living, and withhold not your kindness from the dead.	33 Honor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strength.
34 Avoid not those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn;	34 Give them their portion, just as it has been commanded of you, from the first-fruits and from the purifications. And for your ignorant offenses, purify yourself with a smaller offering.
35 Neglect not to visit the sick-- for these things you will be loved.	35 You should offer to the Lord the gift of your strength, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first-fruits of what is holy.
36 In whatever you do, remember your last days, and you will never sin.	36 And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfected.
	37 A gift has grace in the sight of all the living, but you should not prohibit grace for the dead.
	38 You should not fail to console those who are weeping, nor to walk with those who are mourning.
	39 Do not let yourself be slow to visit the sick. For in this way, you will be confirmed in love.
	40 In all your works, remember your very end, and so you will not sin, unto eternity.