Sirach 4 — WEBBE
4Verse 1My son, don’t deprive the poor of his living.Don’t make the needy eyes wait long.Verse 2Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful,or provoke a man in his distress.Verse 3Don’t add more trouble to a heart that is provoked.Don’t put off giving to him who is in need.Verse 4Don’t reject a suppliant in his affliction.Don’t turn your face away from a poor man.Verse 5Don’t turn your eye away from one who asks.Give no occasion to a man to curse you.Verse 6For if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul,he who made him will hear his supplication.Verse 7Endear yourself to the assembly.Bow your head to a great man.Verse 8Incline your ear to a poor man.Answer him with peaceful words in humility.Verse 9Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of him who wrongs him;Don’t be hesitant in giving judgement.Verse 10Be as a father to the fatherless,and like a husband to their mother.So you will be as a son of the Most High,and he will love you more than your mother does.Verse 11Wisdom exalts her sons,and takes hold of those who seek her.Verse 12He who loves her loves life.Those who seek her early will be filled with gladness.Verse 13He who holds her fast will inherit glory.Where+he enters, the Lord will bless.Verse 14Those who serve her minister to the Holy One.The Lord loves those who love her.Verse 15He who listens to her will judge the nations.He who heeds her will dwell securely.Verse 16If he trusts her, he will inherit her,and his generations will possess her.Verse 17For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways,and will bring fear and dread upon him,
and torment him with her discipline,
until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgements.Verse 18Then she will return him again to the straight way,and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets.Verse 19If he goes astray, she will forsake him,and hand him over to his fall.Verse 20Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil.Don’t be ashamed of your soul.Verse 21For there is a shame that brings sin,and there is a shame that is glory and grace.Verse 22Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul.Don’t revere any man to your falling.Verse 23Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety.+Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair.Verse 24For wisdom will be known by speech,and instruction by the word of the tongue.Verse 25Don’t speak against the truthand be shamed for your ignorance.Verse 26Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins.Don’t fight the river’s current.Verse 27Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon.Don’t be partial to one who is mighty.Verse 28Strive for the truth to death,and the Lord God will fight for you.Verse 29Don’t be hasty with your tongue,or slack and negligent in your deeds.Verse 30Don’t be like a lion in your house,or suspicious of your servants.Verse 31Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive,and closed when you should repay.
and torment him with her discipline,
until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgements.Verse 18Then she will return him again to the straight way,and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets.Verse 19If he goes astray, she will forsake him,and hand him over to his fall.Verse 20Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil.Don’t be ashamed of your soul.Verse 21For there is a shame that brings sin,and there is a shame that is glory and grace.Verse 22Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul.Don’t revere any man to your falling.Verse 23Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety.+Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair.Verse 24For wisdom will be known by speech,and instruction by the word of the tongue.Verse 25Don’t speak against the truthand be shamed for your ignorance.Verse 26Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins.Don’t fight the river’s current.Verse 27Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon.Don’t be partial to one who is mighty.Verse 28Strive for the truth to death,and the Lord God will fight for you.Verse 29Don’t be hasty with your tongue,or slack and negligent in your deeds.Verse 30Don’t be like a lion in your house,or suspicious of your servants.Verse 31Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive,and closed when you should repay.