Sirach 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Do no evil, and evil wil not befal you;	1 Do no evil, and evil will not overtake you;
2 shun wrong, and it wil avoid you.	2 avoid wickedness, and it will turn aside from you.
3 My child, do not sow in the furrows of wickedness, for fear you have to reap them seven times over.	3 Sow not in the furrows of injustice, lest you harvest it sevenfold.
4 Do not ask the Lord for the highest place, or the king for a seat of honour.	4 Seek not from the LORD authority, nor from the king a place of honor.
5 Do not parade your uprightness before the Lord, or your wisdom before the king.	5 Parade not your justice before the Lord, and before the king flaunt not your wisdom.
6 Do not scheme to be appointed judge, for fear you should not be strong enough to stamp out injustice,for fear of being swayed by someone influential and so of risking the loss of your integrity.	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.
7 Do not wrong the general body of citizens and so lower yourself in popular esteem.	7 Be guilty of no evil before the city's populace, nor disgrace yourself before the assembly.
8 Do not be drawn to sin twice over, for you wil not go unpunished even once.	8 Do not plot to repeat a sin; not even for one will you go unpunished.
9 Do not say, 'God will be impressed by my numerous offerings; when I sacrifice to God Most High, he isbound to accept.'	9 Say not: "He will appreciate my many gifts; the Most High will accept my offerings."
10 Do not be hesitant in prayer; do not neglect to give alms.	10 Be not impatient in prayers, and neglect not the giving of alms.
11 Do not laugh at someone who is sad of heart, for he who brings low can lift up high.	11 Laugh not at an embittered man; be mindful of him who exalts and humbles.
12 Do not make up lies against your brother, nor against a friend either.	12 Plot no mischief against your brother, nor against your friend and companion.
13 Mind you tel no lies, for no good can come of it.	13 Delight not in telling lie after lie, for it never results in good.
14 Do not talk too much at the gathering of elders, and do not repeat yourself at your prayers.	14 Thrust not yourself into the deliberations of princes, and repeat not the words of your prayer.
15 Do not shirk tiring jobs or farm work, ordained by the Most High.	15 Hate not laborious tasks, nor farming, which was ordained by the Most High.
16 Do not swell the ranks of sinners, remember that the retribution wil not delay.	16 Do not esteem yourself better than your fellows; remember, his wrath will not delay.
17 Be very humble, since the recompense for the godless is fire and worms.	17 More and more, humble your pride; what awaits man is worms.
18 Do not barter a friend away for the sake of profit, nor a true brother for the gold of Ophir.	18 Barter not a friend for money, nor a dear brother for the gold of Ophir.
19 Do not turn against a wise and good wife; her gracious presence is worth more than gold.	19 Dismiss not a sensible wife; a gracious wife is more precious than corals.
20 Do not il -treat a slave who is an honest worker, or a wage-earner who is devoted to you.	20 Mistreat not a servant who faithfully serves, nor a laborer who devotes himself to his task.
21 Love an intel igent slave with al your heart, and do not deny such a slave his freedom.	21 Let a wise servant be dear to you as your own self; refuse him not his freedom.
22 Have you cattle? Look after them; if they are making you a profit, keep them.	22 If you have livestock, look after them; if they are dependable, keep them.
23 Have you children? Educate them, from childhood make them bow the neck.	23 If you have sons, chastise them; bend their necks from childhood.
24 Have you daughters? Take care of their bodies, but do not be over-indulgent.	24 If you have daughters, keep them chaste, and be not indulgent to them.
25 Marry a daughter off, and you have finished a great work; but give her to a man of sense.	25 Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great task; but give her to a worthy man.
26 Have you a wife to your liking? Do not turn her out; but if you do not love her, never trust her.	26 If you have a wife, let her not seem odious to you; but where there is ill-feeling, trust her not.
27 With al your heart honour your father, never forget the birthpangs of your mother.	27 With your whole heart honor your father; your mother's birthpangs forget not.
28 Remember that you owe your birth to them; how can you repay them for what they have done for you?	28 Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?
29 With al your soul, fear the Lord and revere his priests.	29 With all your soul, fear God, revere his priests.
30 With al your might love him who made you, and do not abandon his ministers.	30 With all your strength, love your Creator, forsake not his ministers.
31 Fear the Lord and honour the priest and give him the portion enjoined on you: first-fruits, sacrifice ofreparation, shoulder-gift, sanctification sacrifice, first-fruits of the holy things.	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.
32 And also give generously to the poor, so that your blessing may lack nothing.	32 To the poor man also extend your hand, that your blessing may be complete;
33 Let your generosity extend to al the living, do not withhold it even from the dead.	33 Be generous to all the living, and withhold not your kindness from the dead.
34 Do not turn your back on those who weep, but share the grief of the grief-stricken.	34 Avoid not those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn;
35 Do not shrink from visiting the sick; in this way you wil make yourself loved.	35 Neglect not to visit the sick-- for these things you will be loved.
36 In everything you do, remember your end, and you wil never sin.	36 In whatever you do, remember your last days, and you will never sin.