Sirach 2

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 My child, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal.	1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
2 Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes.	2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
3 Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.	3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
4 Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient,	4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
5 since gold is tested in the fire, and the chosen in the furnace of humiliation.	5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
6 Trust him and he wil uphold you, fol ow a straight path and hope in him.	6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not turn aside, for fear you fal .	7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
8 You who fear the Lord, trust him, and you will not be robbed of your reward.	8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
9 You who fear the Lord, hope for those good gifts of his, everlasting joy and mercy.	9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
10 Look at the generations of old and see: whoever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Orwhoever, steadfastly fearing him, was forsaken? Or whoever cal ed to him and was ignored?	10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
11 For the Lord is compassionate and merciful, he forgives sins and saves in the time of distress.	11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
12 Woe to faint hearts and listless hands, and to the sinner who treads two paths.	12 Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!
13 Woe to the listless heart that has no faith, for such will have no protection.	13 Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.
14 Woe to you who have lost the strength to endure; what will you do at the Lord's visitation?	14 Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
15 Those who fear the Lord do not disdain his words, and those who love him keep his ways.	15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.
16 Those who fear the Lord do their best to please him, and those who love him wil find satisfaction in theLaw.	16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
17 Those who fear the Lord keep their hearts prepared and humble themselves in his presence.	17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,
18 Let us fal into the hands of the Lord, not into any human clutches; for as his majesty is, so too is hismercy.	18 Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.