Sirach 2

2My son, when thou comest to serve the Lord,

Prepare thy soul for temptation.

Set thy heart aright and endure firmly,

And be not fearful in time of calamity.

Cleave unto Him, and let Him not go,

That thou mayst be wise in thy ways.

Accept whatsoever is brought upon thee,

And be patient in disease and poverty.

For gold is proved in the fire,

And men acceptable ^[to God^[ in the furnace of affliction.

Put thy trust in God, and He will help thee,

And hope in Him, and He will make straight thy ways.

Ye that fear the Lord, wait for His mercy;

And turn not aside, lest ye fall.

Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in Him,

He will not withhold your reward.

Ye that fear the Lord, hope for His benefits,

And for eternal gladness and mercy.

Look at the generations of old and see,

Who ever trusted in the Lord, and was put to shame?

Or who did abide in His fear, and was forsaken?

Or who did call upon Him, and He did not hear him?

For compassionate and merciful is the Lord,

And He forgiveth sins, and sayeth in time of affliction.

Woe unto fearful hearts and unto faint hands,

And unto the sinner that goeth two ways.

Woe unto the faint heart, for it believeth not,

Therefore shall it not be sheltered.

Woe unto you that have lost your endurance,

And what will ye do when the Lord visiteth you?

They that fear the Lord will not be disobedient to His words,

And they that love Him will keep His ways.

They that fear the Lord will seek His good pleasure,

And they that love Him will be filled with ⁽His⁽ Law.

They that fear the Lord will make ready their hearts,

And will humble their souls before Him:

^[‘Let us fall into the hands of the Lord,

And not into the hands of men;’^[

For as is His majesty, so also is His mercy,

And as is His name, so also are His works.