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.
Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of youWithdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from youSon, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfoldDo not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the kingYou 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 kingDo 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 integrityYou should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the peopleAnd you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunishedDo not be cowardly in your soulYou should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give almsYou 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.You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing GodDo not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friendDo not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not goodDo not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayersYou should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most HighYou should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplinedRemember wrath. For it will not be delayedHumble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and wormsDo not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of goldDo 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 goldYou should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to youLet an understanding servant be loved by you like your own soul. You should not cheat him out of freedom, nor abandon him to destitutionAre cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with youAre sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhoodAre daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward themGive your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great workIf a wife in accord with your soul is yours, you should not reject her. But do not entrust yourself to her who is hateful.With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your motherRemember that you would not have been born except through them. And so, give back to them as they also have done for youWith all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holyWith all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministersHonor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strengthGive 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 offeringYou should offer to the Lord the gift of your strength, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first-fruits of what is holyAnd reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfectedA gift has grace in the sight of all the living, but you should not prohibit grace for the deadYou should not fail to console those who are weeping, nor to walk with those who are mourningDo not let yourself be slow to visit the sick. For in this way, you will be confirmed in loveIn all your works, remember your very end, and so you will not sin, unto eternity
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