Sirach 4

NEW JERUSALEM	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 despexeris, 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 abjicias, 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 relinquas quærentibus tibi retro maledicere.
6 for if someone curses you in distress, his Maker will give ear to the imprecation.	6 Maledicentis enim tibi in amaritudine animæ, exaudietur deprecatio 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 pauperum 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 injuriam patitur de manu superbi, et non acide feras in anima tua.
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 In judicando 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 tu velut filius Altissimi obediens, 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 inspirat : et suscipit inquirentes se, et præibit in via justitiæ.
13 Whoever possesses her wil inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.	13 Et qui illam diligit, diligit vitam, et qui vigilaverint ad illam complectentur placorem ejus.
14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.	14 Qui tenuerint illam, vitam hæreditabunt : 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 judicabit 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, hæreditabit illam, et erunt in confirmatione creaturæ illius :
18 she then comes back to him on the straight road, makes him happy and reveals her secrets to him.	18 quoniam in tentatione ambulat cum eo, et in primis eligit eum.
19 If he goes astray, however, she abandons him and leaves him to his own destruction.	19 Timorem, et metum, et probationem inducet super illum : et cruciabit illum in tribulatione doctrinæ suæ, donec tentet eum in cogitationibus suis, et credat animæ illius.
20 Take circumstances into account and beware of evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;	20 Et firmabit illum, et iter adducet directum ad illum, et lætificabit illum :
21 for there is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that is honourable and gracious.	21 et denudabit absconsa sua illi, et thesaurizabit super illum scientiam et intellectum justitiæ.
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, conserva tempus, et devita a malo.
24 for your wisdom is made known by what you say, your erudition by the words you utter.	24 Pro anima tua ne confundaris dicere verum :
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 faciem 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 salutis. Non abscondas sapientiam tuam in decore suo :
29 Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;	29 in lingua enim sapientia dignoscitur : et sensus, et scientia, et doctrina in verbo sensati, et firmamentum in operibus justitiæ.
30 do not be like a lion at home, or cowardly towards your servants.	30 Non contradicas verbo veritatis ullo modo, et de mendacio ineruditionis tuæ 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 subjicias te omni homini pro peccato.
	32 Noli resistere contra faciem potentis, nec coneris contra ictum fluvii.
	33 Pro justitia agonizare pro anima tua, et usque ad mortem certa pro justitia : et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos.
	34 Noli citatus esse in lingua tua, et inutilis, et remissus in operibus tuis.
	35 Noli esse sicut leo in domo tua, evertens domesticos tuos, et opprimens subjectos tibi.
	36 Non sit porrecta manus tua ad accipiendum, et ad dandum collecta.