Sirach 4

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.	1 My child, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalise the needy.
2 Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in his want.	2 Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait anyone in distress.
3 Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.	3 Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.
4 Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.	4 Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from the poor.
5 Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.	5 Do not avert your eyes from the needy, give no one occasion to curse you;
6 For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.	6 for if someone curses you in distress, his Maker will give ear to the imprecation.
7 Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.	7 Gain the love of the community, in the presence of the great bow your head.
8 Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.	8 To the poor lend an ear, and courteously return the greeting.
9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.	9 Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgements.
10 In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.	10 Be like a father to the fatherless and as good as a husband to their mothers. And you wil be like a childto the Most High, who will love you more than your own mother does.
11 And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.	11 Wisdom brings up her own children and cares for those who seek her.
12 Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.	12 Whoever loves her loves life, those who seek her early wil be fil ed with joy.
13 And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.	13 Whoever possesses her wil inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
14 They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.	14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.
15 They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.	15 Whoever obeys her rules the nations, whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
16 He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.	16 If he trusts himself to her he wil inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her;
17 If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.	17 for though she takes him at first through winding ways, bringing fear and faintness on him, trying himout with her discipline til she can trust him, and testing him with her ordeals,
18 For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.	18 she then comes back to him on the straight road, makes him happy and reveals her secrets to him.
19 She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by her laws, and trust his soul.	19 If he goes astray, however, she abandons him and leaves him to his own destruction.
20 Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,	20 Take circumstances into account and beware of evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;
21 And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.	21 for there is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that is honourable and gracious.
22 But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.	22 Do not be too severe on yourself, do not let shame lead you to ruin.
23 Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.	23 Do not refrain from speaking when it will do good, and do not hide your wisdom;
24 For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.	24 for your wisdom is made known by what you say, your erudition by the words you utter.
25 For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that bringeth glory and grace.	25 Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.
26 Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.	26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not struggle against the current of the river.
27 Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:	27 Do not grovel to the foolish, do not show partiality to the influential.
28 And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.	28 Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God wil war on your side.
29 For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.	29 Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;
30 In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.	30 do not be like a lion at home, or cowardly towards your servants.
31 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.	31 Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet tight-fisted when the time comes to give back.
32 Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive against the stream of the river.
33 Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.
34 Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.
35 Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, and oppressing them that are under thee.
36 Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldst give.