Sirach 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	VULGATA
1 Son, you should not cheat the poor out of alms, nor should you avert your eyes from a poor man.	1 Fili, eleemosynam pauperis ne defraudes, et oculos tuos ne transvertas a paupere.
2 You should not despise the hungry soul, and you should not aggravate a poor man in his need.	2 Animam esurientem ne despexeris, et non exasperes pauperem in inopia sua.
3 You should not afflict the heart of the needy, and you should not delay an offer to someone in anguish.	3 Cor inopis ne afflixeris, et non protrahas datum angustianti.
4 You should not make requests of one who is greatly troubled, and you should not avert your face from the indigent.	4 Rogationem contribulati ne abjicias, et non avertas faciem tuam ab egeno.
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 Ab inope ne avertas oculos tuos propter iram : et non relinquas quærentibus tibi retro maledicere.
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 Maledicentis enim tibi in amaritudine animæ, exaudietur deprecatio illius : exaudiet autem eum qui fecit illum.
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 Congregationi pauperum affabilem te facito : et presbytero humilia animam tuam, et magnato humilia caput tuum.
8 Turn your ear without sadness toward the poor, and repay your debt, and respond to him peacefully in meekness.	8 Declina pauperi sine tristitia aurem tuam, et redde debitum tuum, et responde illi pacifica in mansuetudine.
9 Free him who suffers injury at the hand of the arrogant, and do not carry animosity in your soul.	9 Libera eum qui injuriam patitur de manu superbi, et non acide feras in anima tua.
10 In judging, be merciful to the orphan, like a father, and be merciful to their mother, like a husband.	10 In judicando esto pupillis misericors ut pater, et pro viro matri illorum :
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 et eris tu velut filius Altissimi obediens, et miserebitur tui magis quam mater.
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 Sapientia filiis suis vitam inspirat : et suscipit inquirentes se, et præibit in via justitiæ.
13 And he who loves her loves life. And those who watch for her shall embrace her delights.	13 Et qui illam diligit, diligit vitam, et qui vigilaverint ad illam complectentur placorem ejus.
14 Those who hold to her will inherit life. And whatever place she enters, God will bless.	14 Qui tenuerint illam, vitam hæreditabunt : et quo introibit benedicet Deus.
15 Those who serve her will yield to what is holy. And God loves those who love wisdom.	15 Qui serviunt ei obsequentes erunt sancto : et eos qui diligunt illam, diligit Deus.
16 He who listens to her shall judge the nations. And he who gazes upon her will remain secure.	16 Qui audit illam judicabit gentes : et qui intuetur illam permanebit confidens.
17 If he believes in her, he will inherit her, and whatever arises from him will be confirmed.	17 Si crediderit ei, hæreditabit illam, et erunt in confirmatione creaturæ illius :
18 For she walks with him through temptation, and she chooses him from the beginning.	18 quoniam in tentatione ambulat cum eo, et in primis eligit eum.
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 Timorem, et metum, et probationem inducet super illum : et cruciabit illum in tribulatione doctrinæ suæ, donec tentet eum in cogitationibus suis, et credat animæ illius.
20 And then she will strengthen him, and lead him along a straight path, and rejoice in him.	20 Et firmabit illum, et iter adducet directum ad illum, et lætificabit illum :
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 et denudabit absconsa sua illi, et thesaurizabit super illum scientiam et intellectum justitiæ.
22 But if he has wandered astray, she will leave him behind, and she will deliver him into the hands of his enemy.	22 Si autem oberraverit, derelinquet eum, et tradet eum in manus inimici sui.
23 Son, be continually observant, and keep away from evil.	23 Fili, conserva tempus, et devita a malo.
24 For the sake of your soul, you should not be ashamed to speak the truth.	24 Pro anima tua ne confundaris dicere verum :
25 For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory and grace.	25 est enim confusio adducens peccatum, et est confusio adducens gloriam et gratiam.
26 You should not accept a face contrary to your own face, nor should you accept a lie contrary to your own soul.	26 Ne accipias faciem adversus faciem tuam, nec adversus animam tuam mendacium.
27 You should not enjoy the fall of your neighbor.	27 Ne reverearis proximum tuum in casu suo,
28 Neither should you withhold words at an opportunity for salvation. You should not conceal your wisdom in her beauty.	28 nec retineas verbum in tempore salutis. Non abscondas sapientiam tuam in decore suo :
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 in lingua enim sapientia dignoscitur : et sensus, et scientia, et doctrina in verbo sensati, et firmamentum in operibus justitiæ.
30 You should not contradict a word of truth in any way. Otherwise, by a falsehood born of ignorance, you will be confounded.	30 Non contradicas verbo veritatis ullo modo, et de mendacio ineruditionis tuæ confundere.
31 You should not be ashamed to confess your sins, but do not subject yourself to any man because of sin.	31 Non confundaris confiteri peccata tua, et ne subjicias te omni homini pro peccato.
32 Do not choose to stand against the face of the powerful, for you should not strive against the current of the river.	32 Noli resistere contra faciem potentis, nec coneris contra ictum fluvii.
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.	33 Pro justitia agonizare pro anima tua, et usque ad mortem certa pro justitia : et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos.
34 Do not choose to be quick with your words, nor unproductive or neglectful in your works.	34 Noli citatus esse in lingua tua, et inutilis, et remissus in operibus tuis.
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.	35 Noli esse sicut leo in domo tua, evertens domesticos tuos, et opprimens subjectos tibi.
36 Do not let your hand be open when receiving, but closed when giving.	36 Non sit porrecta manus tua ad accipiendum, et ad dandum collecta.