Sirach 35

¹ He who keeps the law makes many offerings; he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.

² He who returns a kindness offers fine flour, and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.

³ To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement.

⁴ Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,

⁵ for all these things are to be done because of the commandment.

⁶ The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar, and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.

⁷ The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten.

⁸ Glorify the Lord generously, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.

⁹ With every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness.

¹⁰ Give to the Most High as he has given, and as generously as your hand has found.

¹¹ For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.

¹² Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality.

¹³ He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man; and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

¹⁴ He will not ignore the supplication of the fatherless, nor the widow when she pours out her story.

¹⁵ Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek as she cries out against him who has caused them to fall?

¹⁶ He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds.

¹⁷ The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him, and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment.

¹⁸ And the Lord will not delay, neither will he be patient with them, till he crushes the loins of the unmerciful and repays vengeance on the nations; till he takes away the multitude of the insolent, and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous;

¹⁹ till he repays the man according to his deeds, and the works of men according to their devices; till he judges the case of his people and makes them rejoice in his mercy.

²⁰ Mercy is as welcome when he afflicts them as clouds of rain in the time of drought.