Sirach 4

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.	1 My son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood; force not the eyes of the needy to turn away.
2 Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in his want.	2 A hungry man grieve not, a needy man anger not;
3 Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.	3 Do not exasperate the downtrodden; delay not to give to the needy.
4 Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.	4 A beggar in distress do not reject; avert not 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 From the needy turn not your eyes, give no man reason 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 in the bitterness of his soul he curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer.
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 Endear yourself to the assembly; before a ruler 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 Give a hearing to the poor man, and return his greeting with courtesy;
9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy 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 fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.	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 thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.	11 Wisdom instructs her children and admonishes 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 He who loves her loves life; those who seek her out win her favor.
13 And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.	13 He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.
14 They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.	14 Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the LORD loves.
15 They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.	15 He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.
16 He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.	16 If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her.
17 If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.	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 walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.	18 Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal 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 But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.
20 Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,	20 Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame.
21 And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.	21 There is a sense of shame laden with guilt, and a shame that merits honor and respect.
22 But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and 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, observe the time, and fly from evil.	23 Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom;
24 For thy soul be not ashamed to say 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 bringeth sin, and there is a shame that bringeth glory and grace.	25 Never gainsay the truth, and struggle not against the rushing stream.
26 Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.	26 Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.
27 Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:	27 Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do so before rulers.
28 And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.	28 Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you.
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 surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds.
30 In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.	30 Be not a lion at home, nor sly and suspicious at work.
31 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.	31 Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give.
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.