Sirach 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NOVA VULGATA
1 My child, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalise the needy.	1 Fili, eleemosynam pauperis ne defraudes et oculos tuos ne transvertas a paupere.
2 Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait anyone in distress.	2 Animam esurientem ne contristaveris et non exasperes pauperem in inopia sua.
3 Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.	3 Cor inopis ne afflixeris et non protrahas datum angustianti.
4 Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from the poor.	4 Rogationem contribulati ne abicias et non avertas faciem tuam ab egeno.
5 Do not avert your eyes from the needy, give no one occasion to curse you;	5 Ab inope ne avertas oculos tuos propter iram et non des ei locum tibi retro maledicendi;
6 for if someone curses you in distress, his Maker will give ear to the imprecation.	6 maledicentis enim tibi in amaritudine animae, exaudietur precatio illius: exaudiet autem eum, qui fecit illum.
7 Gain the love of the community, in the presence of the great bow your head.	7 Congregationi affabilem te facito et presbytero humilia animam tuam et magnato humilia caput tuum.
8 To the poor lend an ear, and courteously return the greeting.	8 Declina pauperi sine tristitia aurem tuam et redde debitum tuum et responde illi pacifica in mansuetudine.
9 Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgements.	9 Libera eum, qui iniuriam patitur, de manu opprimentis eum et non acide feras in anima tua in iudicando.
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.	10 Esto pupillis misericors ut pater et pro viro matri illorum;
11 Wisdom brings up her own children and cares for those who seek her.	11 et eris velut filius Altissimi oboediens, et miserebitur tui magis quam mater.
12 Whoever loves her loves life, those who seek her early wil be fil ed with joy.	12 Sapientia filiis suis vitam inspiravit et suscipit inquirentes se.
13 Whoever possesses her wil inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.	13 Qui illam diligit, diligit vitam; et, qui vigilaverint ad illam, complectentur placorem a Domino.
14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.	14 Qui tenuerint illam, gloriam hereditabunt, et, quo introibit, benedicet Deus.
15 Whoever obeys her rules the nations, whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.	15 Qui serviunt ei, obsequentes erunt Sancto, et eos, qui diligunt illam, diligit Deus.
16 If he trusts himself to her he wil inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her;	16 Qui audit illam, iudicabit gentes; et, qui intuetur illam, permanebit confidens.
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,	17 Si crediderit ei, hereditabit illam, et erunt in possessione generationes illius.
18 she then comes back to him on the straight road, makes him happy and reveals her secrets to him.	18 Quoniam in simulatione ambulat cum eo et in primis explorat eum,
19 If he goes astray, however, she abandons him and leaves him to his own destruction.	19 timorem et tremorem inducet super illum et probabit illum in tentatione doctrinae suae, donec ipse teneat eam in cogitationibus suis et credat animae illius.
20 Take circumstances into account and beware of evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;	20 Et redibit recta ad illum et firmabit illum et laetificabit illum
21 for there is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that is honourable and gracious.	21 et denudabit illi absconsa sua et thesaurizabit super illum scientiam et intellectum iustitiae.
22 Do not be too severe on yourself, do not let shame lead you to ruin.	22 Si autem oberraverit, derelinquet eum et tradet eum in manus inimici sui.
23 Do not refrain from speaking when it will do good, and do not hide your wisdom;	23 Fili, observa tempus et devita a malo
24 for your wisdom is made known by what you say, your erudition by the words you utter.	24 et pro anima tua ne confundaris;
25 Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.	25 est enim confusio adducens peccatum, et est confusio adducens gloriam et gratiam.
26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not struggle against the current of the river.	26 Ne accipias faciem adversus animam tuam nec adversus animam tuam mendacium.
27 Do not grovel to the foolish, do not show partiality to the influential.	27 Ne reverearis proximum tuum in casu suo
28 Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God wil war on your side.	28 nec retineas verbum in tempore suo; non abscondas sapientiam tuam in decorem.
29 Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;	29 In verbo enim agnoscitur sapientia, et sensus in responsione linguae.
30 do not be like a lion at home, or cowardly towards your servants.	30 Non contradicas verbo veritatis ullo modo et de ineruditione tua confundere.
31 Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet tight-fisted when the time comes to give back.	31 Non confundaris confiteri peccata tua et ne subicias te omni homini pro peccato.
	32 Noli resistere contra faciem potentis nec coneris contra ictum fluvii.
	33 Usque ad mortem agonizare pro iustitia, et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos.
	34 Noli citatus esse in lingua tua et pavidus et remissus in operibus tuis.
	35 Noli esse sicut leo in domo tua evertens domesticos tuos et opprimens subiectos tibi.
	36 Non sit porrecta manus tua ad accipiendum et ad dandum collecta.