Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

4:1 My sonne, defraude not the poore of his liuing, and make not the needy eies to waite long.

4:1 My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.

4:2 Make not an hungry soule sorrowfull, neither prouoke a man in his distresse.

4:2 Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.

4:3 Adde not more trouble to an heart that is vexed, and deferre not to giue to him that is in neede.

4:3 Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.

4:4 Reiect not the supplication of the afflicted, neither turne away thy face from a poore man.

4:4 Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.

4:5 Turne not away thine eye from the needy, and giue him none occasion to curse thee:

4:5 Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:

4:6 For if he curse thee in the bitternesse of his soule, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.

4:6 For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.

4:7 Get thy selfe the loue of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.

4:7 Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.

4:8 Let it not grieue thee to bowe downe thine eare to the poore, and giue him a friendly answere with meekenesse.

4:8 Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.

4:9 Deliuer him that suffreth wrong, from the hand of the oppressour, and be not faint hearted when thou sittest in iudgement.

4:9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment.

4:10 Be as a father vnto the fatherlesse, and in stead of a husband vnto their mother, so shalt thou be as the sonne of the most high, and he shall loue thee more then thy mother doeth.

4:10 Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.

4:11 Wisedome exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seeke her.

4:11 Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek her.

4:12 He that loueth her, loueth life, and they that seeke to her earely, shall be filled with ioy.

4:12 He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.

4:13 He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory, and wheresoeuer she entreth, the Lord will blesse.

4:13 He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.

4:14 They that serue her shall minister to the Holy one, and them that loue her, the Lord doth loue.

4:14 They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the Lord doth love.

4:15 Who so giueth eare vnto her, shall iudge the nations, and he that attendeth vnto her, shall dwell securely.

4:15 Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.

4:16 If a man commit himselfe vnto her, he shall inherite her, and his generation shall hold her in possession.

4:16 If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.

4:17 For at the first she will walke with him by crooked wayes, and bring feare and dread vpon him, and torment him with her discipline, vntill she may trust his soule, and try him by her Lawes.

4:17 For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her laws.

4:18 Then wil she returne the straight way vnto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.

4:18 Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.

4:19 But if he goe wrong, she will forsake him, and giue him ouer to his owne ruine.

4:19 But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.

4:20 Obserue the opportunitie, and beware of euill, and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soule.

4:20 Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul.

4:21 For [there] is a shame that bringeth sinne, and there is a shame which is glorie and grace.

4:21 For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.

4:22 Accept no person against thy soule, and let not the reuerence of any man cause thee to fall:

4:22 Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.

4:23 And refraine not to speake, [when] there is [occasion to doe good], and hide not thy wisedome in her beautie.

4:23 And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.

4:24 For by speach wisedome shall be knowen, and learning by the word of the tongue.

4:24 For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.

4:25 In no wise speake against the trueth, but be abashed of the errour of thine ignorance.

4:25 In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.

4:26 Bee not ashamed to confesse thy sinnes, and force not the course of the riuer.

4:26 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.

4:27 Make not thy selfe an vnderling to a foolish man, neither accept the person of the mighty.

4:27 Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.

4:28 Striue for the trueth vnto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.

4:28 Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.

4:29 Be not hastie in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slacke and remisse.

4:29 Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.

4:30 Bee not as a Lion in thy house, nor franticke among thy seruants.

4:30 Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.

4:31 Let not thine hand bee stretched out to receiue, and shut when thou shouldest repay.

4:31 Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.