Sirach 7

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of you.	1 No hagas el mal, y el mal no se apoderará de ti;
2 Withdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from you.	2 apártate de la injusticia, y ella se apartará de ti.
3 Son, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfold.	3 No siembres, hijo mío, en los surcos de la injusticia, no sea que coseches siete veces más.
4 Do not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the king.	4 No pidas al Señor un puesto importante ni al rey un sitial de honor.
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.	5 No quieras pasar por justo delante del Señor ni te hagas el sabio delante del rey.
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.	6 No aspires al cargo de juez, no sea que no puedas extirpar las injusticias o te dejes intimidar por un poderoso, y así pongas en peligro tu rectitud.
7 You should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the people.	7 No ofendas a la asamblea de la ciudad ni te degrades delante de la multitud.
8 And you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunished.	8 No incurras dos veces en pecado, porque ni uno solo quedará impune.
9 Do not be cowardly in your soul.	9 No digas: «El Señor apreciará la multitud de mis dones; cuando los presente al Dios Altísimo, él los aceptará».
10 You should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give alms.	10 No dejes de orar confiadamente ni te olvides de dar limosna.
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.”	11 No te burles del hombre que está amargado, porque hay Alguien que humilla y también exalta.
12 You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing God.	12 No urdas mentiras contra tu hermano ni lo hagas tampoco contra un amigo.
13 Do not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friend.	13 No digas nunca una mentira, porque esa costumbre no conduce a nada bueno.
14 Do not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not good.	14 No hables demasiado en la asamblea de los ancianos ni repitas las palabras en tu oración.
15 Do not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayers.	15 No detestes los trabajos penosos ni el trabajo del campo, creado por el Altísimo.
16 You should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most High.	16 No te agregues a la multitud de los pecadores: recuerda que la ira del Señor no tardará.
17 You should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplined.	17 Sé profundamente humilde, porque fuego y gusanos son el castigo del impío.
18 Remember wrath. For it will not be delayed.	18 No cambies a un amigo por dinero ni a un verdadero hermano por el oro de Ofir.
19 Humble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and worms.	19 No te apartes de una mujer sabia y buena, porque su encanto vale más que el oro.
20 Do not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of gold.	20 No maltrates al servidor que trabaja fielmente ni al jornalero que se da por entero.
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.	21 Ama de corazón a un servidor inteligente y no lo prives de su libertad.
22 You should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to you.	22 Si tienes ganado, cuídalo bien, y si te da ganancia, consérvalo.
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.	23 Si tienes hijos, edúcalos y exígeles obediencia desde su niñez.
24 Are cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with you.	24 Si tienes hijas, cuídalas para que sean castas y no te muestres demasiado blando con ellas.
25 Are sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhood.	25 Casa a tu hija, y habrás hecho una gran obra, pero dásela a un hombre inteligente.
26 Are daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward them.	26 Si quieres a tu mujer, no la repudies, pero si no la amas, no te fíes de ella.
27 Give your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great work.	27 Glorifica a tu padre de todo corazón y no olvides los dolores de tu madre;
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.	28 acuérdate que les debes la vida: ¿cómo les retribuirás lo que hicieron por ti?
29 With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your mother.	29 Reverencia al Señor con toda tu alma y venera a sus sacerdotes.
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.	30 Ama a tu Creador con todas tus fuerzas y no abandones a sus ministros.
31 With all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holy.	31 Teme al Señor y glorifica al sacerdote, dale su parte, como se te ha mandado: las primicias, el sacrificio de reparación y el lomo de las víctimas, las ofrendas consagradas y la primicia de las cosas santas.
32 With all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministers.	32 Tiende la mano también al pobre, y serás plenamente bendecido;
33 Honor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strength.	33 sé generoso con todos los vivientes y no niegues tu piedad a los muertos;
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.	34 no des la espalda a los que lloran y comparte la aflicción de los que sufren;
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.	35 no dejes de visitar al enfermo: con tales obras te harás amar.
36 And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfected.	36 En todas tus acciones, acuérdate de tu fin y no pecarás jamás.
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.