Sirach 4 — LXXSB
4Verse 1My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.Verse 2Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.Verse 3Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.Verse 4Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away your face from a poor man.Verse 5Turn not away your eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse you:Verse 6For if he curse you in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.Verse 7Get yourself the love of the congregation, and bow your head to a great man.Verse 8Let it not grieve you to bow down your ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.Verse 9Deliver him that suffers wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not faint-hearted when you sit in judgement.Verse 10Be as a father to the fatherless, and instead of an husband to their mother: so shall you be as the son of the most High, and he shall love you more than your mother does.Verse 11Wisdom exalts her children, and lays hold of them that seek her.Verse 12He that loves her loves life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.Verse 13He that holds her fast shall inherit glory; and wherever she enters, the Lord will bless.Verse 14They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the Lord does love.Verse 15Whoso gives ear to her shall judge the nations: and he that attends to her shall dwell securely.Verse 16If a man commit himself to her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.Verse 17For 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.Verse 18Then will she return the straight way to him, and comfort him, and show him her secrets.Verse 19But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.Verse 20Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerns your soul.Verse 21For there is a shame that brings sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.Verse 22Accept no person against your soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause you to fall.Verse 23And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not your wisdom in her beauty.Verse 24For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.Verse 25In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of your ignorance.Verse 26Be not ashamed to confess your sins; and force not the course of the river.Verse 27Make not yourself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.Verse 28Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord shall fight for you.Verse 29Be not hasty in your tongue, and in your deeds slack and remiss.Verse 30Be not as a lion in your house, nor frantick amongst your servants.Verse 31Let not your hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when you should repay.