Sirach 4

DOUAI-RHEIMS	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.	1 My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.
2 Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in his want.	2 Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.
3 Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.	3 Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.
4 Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.	4 Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.
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 Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:
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 he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.
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 Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.
8 Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.	8 Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.
9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.	9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment.
10 In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.	10 Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.
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 exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that 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 He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.
13 And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.	13 He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.
14 They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.	14 They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the Lord doth love.
15 They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.	15 Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.
16 He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.	16 If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.
17 If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.	17 For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her laws.
18 For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.	18 Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.
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 But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.
20 Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,	20 Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul.
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 bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.
22 But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.	22 Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.
23 Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.	23 And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.
24 For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.	24 For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.
25 For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that bringeth glory and grace.	25 In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.
26 Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.	26 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.
27 Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:	27 Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.
28 And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.	28 Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.
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 Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
30 In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.	30 Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.
31 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.	31 Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.
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.