Sirach 7
Do not choose evil, and evil will not take hold of you; instead, withdraw from iniquity and seek humility. Avoid seeking power or leadership unless you have the strength to uphold justice, and do not justify yourself before God. Be honest and charitable, and do not ridicule or lie to others. Treat others with kindness, including servants, children, and the poor, and honor your parents and God. Give to the priests and the poor, and console those who are weeping or mourning.
1Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of you2Withdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from you3Son, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfold4Do not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the king5You should not justify yourself before God, for he is the Knower of hearts. And by no means should you wish to seem wise before the king6Do not seek to become a judge, unless you have sufficient strength to shatter iniquities. Otherwise, you might fear the face of the powerful, and so establish a scandal within your integrity7You should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the people8And you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunished9Do not be cowardly in your soul10You should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give alms11You should not say: "God will look with favor on the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the most high God, he will accept my gift.12You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing God13Do not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friend14Do not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not good15Do not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayers16You should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most High17You should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplined18Remember wrath. For it will not be delayed19Humble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and worms20Do not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of gold21Do not choose to depart from a good and understanding wife, whom you have been allotted in the fear of the Lord. For the grace of her modesty is above gold22You should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to you23Let an understanding servant be loved by you like your own soul. You should not cheat him out of freedom, nor abandon him to destitution24Are cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with you25Are sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhood26Are daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward them27Give your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great work28If a wife in accord with your soul is yours, you should not reject her. But do not entrust yourself to her who is hateful.29With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your mother30Remember that you would not have been born except through them. And so, give back to them as they also have done for you31With all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holy32With all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministers33Honor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strength34Give them their portion, just as it has been commanded of you, from the first-fruits and from the purifications. And for your ignorant offenses, purify yourself with a smaller offering35You should offer to the Lord the gift of your strength, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first-fruits of what is holy36And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfected37A gift has grace in the sight of all the living, but you should not prohibit grace for the dead38You should not fail to console those who are weeping, nor to walk with those who are mourning39Do not let yourself be slow to visit the sick. For in this way, you will be confirmed in love40In all your works, remember your very end, and so you will not sin, unto eternity
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