Sirach 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Son, you should not cheat the poor out of alms, nor should you avert your eyes from a poor man.	1 My son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood; force not the eyes of the needy to turn away.
2 You should not despise the hungry soul, and you should not aggravate a poor man in his need.	2 A hungry man grieve not, a needy man anger not;
3 You should not afflict the heart of the needy, and you should not delay an offer to someone in anguish.	3 Do not exasperate the downtrodden; delay not to give to the needy.
4 You should not make requests of one who is greatly troubled, and you should not avert your face from the indigent.	4 A beggar in distress do not reject; avert not your face from the poor.
5 You should not avert your eyes from the needy out of anger. And you should not abandon those who seek help from you, so that they speak curses behind your back.	5 From the needy turn not your eyes, give no man reason to curse you;
6 For the pleadings of him who speaks curses of you, in the bitterness of his soul, will be heeded. For the One who made him will heed him.	6 For if in the bitterness of his soul he curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer.
7 Make yourself a friend to the congregation of the poor, and humble your soul before an elder, and humble your head before the great.	7 Endear yourself to the assembly; before a ruler bow your head.
8 Turn your ear without sadness toward the poor, and repay your debt, and respond to him peacefully in meekness.	8 Give a hearing to the poor man, and return his greeting with courtesy;
9 Free him who suffers injury at the hand of the arrogant, and do not carry animosity in your soul.	9 Deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor; let not justice be repugnant to you.
10 In judging, be merciful to the orphan, like a father, and be merciful to their mother, like a husband.	10 To the fatherless be as a father, and help their mother as a husband would; Thus will you be like a son to the Most High, and he will be more tender to you than a mother.
11 And then you shall be like an obedient son of the Most High, and he will take pity on you more than a mother would.	11 Wisdom instructs her children and admonishes those who seek her.
12 Wisdom breathes life into her sons, and she lifts up those who are seeking her, and she will precede them in the way of justice.	12 He who loves her loves life; those who seek her out win her favor.
13 And he who loves her loves life. And those who watch for her shall embrace her delights.	13 He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.
14 Those who hold to her will inherit life. And whatever place she enters, God will bless.	14 Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the LORD loves.
15 Those who serve her will yield to what is holy. And God loves those who love wisdom.	15 He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.
16 He who listens to her shall judge the nations. And he who gazes upon her will remain secure.	16 If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her.
17 If he believes in her, he will inherit her, and whatever arises from him will be confirmed.	17 She walks with him as a stranger, and at first she puts him to the test; Fear and dread she brings upon him and tries him with her discipline; With her precepts she puts him to the proof, until his heart is fully with her.
18 For she walks with him through temptation, and she chooses him from the beginning.	18 Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets to him.
19 She will lead fear and dread and trials over him, and she will crucify him with the tribulation of her doctrine, until she has tested him in his thoughts and she can trust in his soul.	19 But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.
20 And then she will strengthen him, and lead him along a straight path, and rejoice in him.	20 Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame.
21 And she will disclose her secrets to him, and she will store up treasure, of the knowledge and understanding of justice, in him.	21 There is a sense of shame laden with guilt, and a shame that merits honor and respect.
22 But if he has wandered astray, she will leave him behind, and she will deliver him into the hands of his enemy.	22 Show no favoritism to your own discredit; let no one intimidate you to your own downfall.
23 Son, be continually observant, and keep away from evil.	23 Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom;
24 For the sake of your soul, you should not be ashamed to speak the truth.	24 For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue's rejoinder.
25 For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory and grace.	25 Never gainsay the truth, and struggle not against the rushing stream.
26 You should not accept a face contrary to your own face, nor should you accept a lie contrary to your own soul.	26 Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.
27 You should not enjoy the fall of your neighbor.	27 Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do so before rulers.
28 Neither should you withhold words at an opportunity for salvation. You should not conceal your wisdom in her beauty.	28 Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you.
29 For wisdom is discerned within speech. And understanding and knowledge and doctrine are discerned in the words of those who understand and by their steadfastness in the works of justice.	29 Be not surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds.
30 You should not contradict a word of truth in any way. Otherwise, by a falsehood born of ignorance, you will be confounded.	30 Be not a lion at home, nor sly and suspicious at work.
31 You should not be ashamed to confess your sins, but do not subject yourself to any man because of sin.	31 Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give.
32 Do not choose to stand against the face of the powerful, for you should not strive against the current of the river.
33 Suffer for justice, on behalf of your soul, and struggle, even unto death, on behalf of justice, and God will fight against your enemies on your behalf.
34 Do not choose to be quick with your words, nor unproductive or neglectful in your works.
35 Do not choose to be like a lion in your house, distressing those of your household, and oppressing those who are subject to you.
36 Do not let your hand be open when receiving, but closed when giving.