Jul 25 - Sirach 33-35
Sirach
1No evils will befall one who fears the Lord. Instead, God will preserve him during temptation and will free him from evils2A wise man does not hate the commandments and the justices, and so he will not be thrown about violently, like a ship in a storm3A man of understanding puts his faith in the law of God, and so the law is faithful to him4Whoever would resolve a dispute will prepare a word, and so, having prayed, he will be heard. And he will observe discipline, and then he will respond5The heart of a fool is like the wheel of a cart. And his thoughts are like a turning axel6A friend who is a whisperer is like an untamed horse: he neighs under anyone who sits upon him7Why does day follow after day, and light follow after light, and year follow after year, in accord with the sun8By the knowledge of the Lord, they were arranged, after the sun was made, in keeping with his command9And so, the seasons changed, with their feast days. And according to them, they celebrated the feast days, in their hour10Some of them, God exalted and magnified. And some of them, he set amid the ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and from the earth, from which Adam was created11With a mulititude of disciplines, the Lord has distinguished them and diversified their ways12Some of them, he has blessed and exalted. And some of them he has sanctified and placed close to himself. And some of them, he has cursed and brought low, and he has turned them from their station13Just as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so as to form and to shape it14so are all his ways in accord with his dispensation, and so is man in the hand of the One who made him. And he will repay him according to his judgment15Good is against evil, and life is against death; so also is a sinner against a just man. And so should you consider all the works of the Most High: two and two, and one against another16And I awakened at the very end, and I was like one who gathers grapes after the grape-gatherers17I, too, have hoped in the blessing of God. And I have filled the winepress like one who gathers grapes18Consider how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking discipline19Listen to me, you great ones, with all the peoples. And incline your ears, you rulers of the Church20You should not give authority over yourself to a son or wife, to a brother or friend, in your life. And you should not give your estate to another, lest perhaps you may regret it, and then you would be begging for the same21While you are still living and breathing, let no one among all flesh change you22For it is better if your children petition you, than if you look toward the hands of your children23In all your works, be pre-eminent24You should not allow a blemish upon your glory. On the day of the consummation of the days of your life, at the time of your passing, distribute your inheritance25Fodder and a rod and a burden are for a donkey; bread and discipline and work are for a servant26He works under discipline, and he seeks rest. Allow his hands to be idle, and he seeks liberty27The yoke and the strap bend a stiff neck, and continual labors bend a servant28Torture and chains are for a malevolent servant; send him to work, so that he may not be idle29For idleness has taught much evil30Appoint him to a task. For this is fitting for him. And if he will not be obedient, bend him with chains. But you should do no more than any flesh can bear. Truly, you should do nothing grievous without judgment31If you have a faithful servant, let him be to you like your own soul. Treat him like a brother. For you have obtained him by the blood of your soul32If you harm him unjustly, he will turn away and flee33And then, when he lifts himself up and departs, you will not know whom to ask, or in what way to seek him
1The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent2Like one who chases a shadow and pursues the wind, so also is one who pays attention to lying visions3In the vision of dreams, one thing represents another, as when a mask is before the face of a man4What can be cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie5Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness6For your heart suffers from imagination, like a woman suffering in childbirth. Unless it is a visitation sent from the Most High, you should not set your heart upon it7For dreams have caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away8The word of the law will be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom will be made plain in the mouths of the faithful9He who has not been tested, what does he know? A man with much experience will consider many things. And whoever has learned much will explain with understanding10He who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes11He who has not been tested, what kind of things can he know? He who has been deceived will be more cunning12I have seen much by wandering, and the customs of many things13At times, I have even been in danger of death because of these things, but I was freed by the grace of God14The spirit of those who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence15For their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are on those who love him16Those who fear the Lord will tremble at nothing, and they will not be terrified. For he is their hope17The soul of him who fears the Lord is blessed18To whom should he look, and who is his strength19The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him. He is a powerful Protector, a Firmament of virtue, a Shelter from the heat, and a Covering from the midday sun20a Guardian from offenses, and a Helper from falling, who exalts the soul and illuminates the eyes, and who gives health and life and blessing21An immolation from iniquity is a stained oblation, and the derisions of the unjust are not well pleasing22The Lord is only for those who persevere for him in the way of truth and justice23The Most High does not approve of the gifts of the iniquitous. Neither does he have respect for the oblations of the unjust; neither will he forgive their sins because of the multitude of their sacrifices24Whoever offers a sacrifice from the substance of the poor is like one who sacrifices the son in the sight of his father25The bread of the indigent is the life of the poor. Whoever cheats them out of it is a man of blood26Whoever takes away the bread of sweat is like one who kills his neighbor27He who sheds blood, and he who cheats the hired hand out of his wages, are brothers28When one builds and another destroys, what benefit do they have from their labor29When one prays and another curses, whose voice will God heed30He who washes himself after touching the dead, and then touches him again, what was the benefit of his washing31Similarly, a man who fasts for his sins, and then does the same again, what was the benefit of his humbling himself? Who will heed his prayer
1Whoever observes the law multiplies oblations2It is a salutary sacrifice to attend to the commandments and to withdraw from all iniquity3And to depart from injustice is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices and a supplication for sins4Whoever gives thanks, offers a gift of fine flour, and whoever acts with mercy, offers a sacrifice5To withdraw from iniquity is well-pleasing to the Lord. And to withdraw from injustice is a supplication for sins6You should not appear empty before the sight of the Lord7For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God8The oblation of the just fattens the altar, and is a fragrance of sweetness in the sight of the Most High9The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will never forget the memorial of it10Render glory to God with a good heart. And you should not reduce the first-fruits of your hands11With every gift, have a cheerful countenance, and sanctify your tithes with exultation12Give to the Most High according to his gifts to you, and act with a good eye toward the creations of your hands13For the Lord gives recompense, and he will repay you seven times as much14Do not be willing to offer corrupt gifts. For he will not accept them15And do not be willing to consider an unjust sacrifice. For the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no favoritism toward anyone16The Lord will not accept favoritism against the poor, but he will heed the prayer of one who has been harmed17He will not despise the prayers of the orphan, nor of the widow, if she utters a lamenting complaint18Do a widow’s tears not run down her cheek? And will her outcry not cause their downfall19For from her cheek, her tears ascend even to heaven. And the Lord, the One who listens, will not take delight in them20Whoever adores God with joy will be accepted, and his prayer will reach even to the clouds21The prayer of one who humbles himself will pierce the clouds. And it will not be consoled until it draws near; and it will not withdraw until the Most High beholds22And the Lord will not delay, and he will judge for those who are just, and he will accomplish judgment. And the Almighty will not have patience with them, so that he may crush their back23And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, until he has taken away the multitude of the arrogant, and broken the scepters of the iniquitous24until he has rendered to men according to their deeds, and according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption25until he has judged the judgment of his people. And he will delight the just with his mercy26The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of tribulation, like a rain cloud in the time of drought