Sirach 4

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