Sirach 4

4My son, defraud not the poor of his sustenance,

And grieve not the eyes of him that is bitter in ⁽his⁽ soul.

Despise not the needy soul,

And vex not the heart of the oppressed.

Hurt not the feelings of the afflicted,

And withhold not a gift from the poor.

Despise not the supplication of the poor,

And turn not away from the afflicted soul.

From him that asketh turn not thine eye away,

And give him none occasion to curse thee;

When in anguish of soul the broken-hearted crieth,

He that created him heareth his plaint.

Make thyself beloved in the assembly,

And to the rulerof the city bow thy head.

Incline thine ear to the afflicted,

And return his salutation in meekness.

Deliver the oppressed from his oppressors,

And let not thy spirit hatejust judgement.

Be as a father to orphans,

And in place of a husband to widows;

Then God will call thee ‘son’,

And will be gracious to thee, and deliver thee from the Pit.

Wisdom instructeth her sons,

And enlighteneth all who give heed to her.

They that love her love life,

And they that seek her shall obtain grace from the Lord.

They that take hold of her shall find glory from the Lord,

And they shall abide in the blessing of the Lord.

They that serve her serve the Holy One,

And God loveth them that love her.

He that hearkeneth unto me shall judge ⁽in⁽ truth,

And he that giveth ear unto me shall dwell in my innermost chamber.

If he trust me, he shall possess me,

And his posterityshall hold me fast.

But I will walk with him in disguise,

And at first I will try him with temptations.

Fear and dread will I bring upon him,

And I will torment him with chastisements,

Until his heart is filled with me,

And I try him with my ordinances.

⁽Then⁽ will I lead him on again,

And will reveal to him my secrets.

If he turn away ⁽from me⁽, I will forsake him,

And will deliver him over to the spoilers.

My son, observe times and seasons, and beware of evil,

And be not ashamed concerning thy soul.

For there is a shame that bringeth sin,

And there is a shame ⁽that bringeth⁽ honour and favour.

Respect no man to thine own detriment,

And be not ashamed, to thine own stumbling.

Withhold not speech in due season,

And hide not thy wisdom.

For Wisdom is known through utterance,

And understanding by the word of the tongue.

Speak not against the truth,

And be humble towards God.

Be not ashamed to confess ⁽thy⁽ sins,

And stand not against the stream.

Prostrate not thy soul in the sight of a fool,

And accept not the person of one that is mighty.

Strive for the right until death,

And the Lord will fight for thee.

Be not boastful with thy tongue,

⁽Nor⁽ slack and negligent in thy work.

Be not like a lion in thy home,

And tyrannous and terrible towards thy servants.

Let not thy hand be stretched out to take,

And closedat the time of giving back.