Jul 14 - Sirach 4-6
Sirach
1Son, you should not cheat the poor out of alms, nor should you avert your eyes from a poor man2You should not despise the hungry soul, and you should not aggravate a poor man in his need3You should not afflict the heart of the needy, and you should not delay an offer to someone in anguish4You should not make requests of one who is greatly troubled, and you should not avert your face from the indigent5You 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 back6For 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 him7Make yourself a friend to the congregation of the poor, and humble your soul before an elder, and humble your head before the great8Turn your ear without sadness toward the poor, and repay your debt, and respond to him peacefully in meekness9Free him who suffers injury at the hand of the arrogant, and do not carry animosity in your soul10In judging, be merciful to the orphan, like a father, and be merciful to their mother, like a husband11And then you shall be like an obedient son of the Most High, and he will take pity on you more than a mother would12Wisdom breathes life into her sons, and she lifts up those who are seeking her, and she will precede them in the way of justice13And he who loves her loves life. And those who watch for her shall embrace her delights14Those who hold to her will inherit life. And whatever place she enters, God will bless15Those who serve her will yield to what is holy. And God loves those who love wisdom16He who listens to her shall judge the nations. And he who gazes upon her will remain secure17If he believes in her, he will inherit her, and whatever arises from him will be confirmed18For she walks with him through temptation, and she chooses him from the beginning19She 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 soul20And then she will strengthen him, and lead him along a straight path, and rejoice in him21And she will disclose her secrets to him, and she will store up treasure, of the knowledge and understanding of justice, in him22But if he has wandered astray, she will leave him behind, and she will deliver him into the hands of his enemy23Son, be continually observant, and keep away from evil24For the sake of your soul, you should not be ashamed to speak the truth25For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory and grace26You should not accept a face contrary to your own face, nor should you accept a lie contrary to your own soul27You should not enjoy the fall of your neighbor28Neither should you withhold words at an opportunity for salvation. You should not conceal your wisdom in her beauty29For 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 justice30You should not contradict a word of truth in any way. Otherwise, by a falsehood born of ignorance, you will be confounded31You should not be ashamed to confess your sins, but do not subject yourself to any man because of sin32Do not choose to stand against the face of the powerful, for you should not strive against the current of the river33Suffer 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 behalf34Do not choose to be quick with your words, nor unproductive or neglectful in your works35Do not choose to be like a lion in your house, distressing those of your household, and oppressing those who are subject to you36Do not let your hand be open when receiving, but closed when giving
1Do not choose to seek iniquitous possessions, and you should not say: "I have all I need in life." For it will be of no benefit to you in the time of retribution and darkness2You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart3And you should not say: "How powerful am I?" or, "Who will cast me down because of my deeds?" For God will vindicate with vengeance4You should not say, "I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?" For the Most High is a patient recompensor5Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin6And you should not say: "The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins.7For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners8You should not delay being converted to the Lord, and you should not set it aside from day to day9For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you10Do not choose to be anxious for unjust wealth. For these things will not benefit you in the day of darkness and retribution11You should not winnow in every wind, and you should not go forth into every path. For so is every sinner proven by his duplicitous tongue12Be steadfast in the way of the Lord and in the truth of your understanding and knowledge, and let words of peace and justice overtake you13Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom14If you understand, then answer your neighbor. But if you do not, then let your hand be over your mouth, so that you are not caught by an inept word, and then confounded15Honor and glory are in the words of those who understand, yet truly, the tongue of the imprudent man is his undoing16You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded17For confusion and remorse is upon a thief, and a wicked mark is upon the double-tongued; but for the whisperer, there is hatred and animosity and disgrace18Justify the small and the great similarly
1Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued2You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness3which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert4For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious5A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man6Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor7If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily8For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation9And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults10And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need11A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household12If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship13Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends14A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure15Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity16A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one17He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him18Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs19Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then wait for her good fruits20For in doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce21How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her22She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay23For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God24Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice25Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains26Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings27Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength28Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her29For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight30Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be a robe of glory31For in her is the beauty of life, and her bindings are a healing bandage32You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing33Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise34If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise35Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you36And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down the steps of his doors37Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you