The Holy Bible
« Chapter 3 «--- Sirach ---» Chapter 5»
Sirach 4 : 1 - 36
Chapter 4
| 1 | Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.
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| 2 | Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in his want.
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| 3 | Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.
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| 4 | Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.
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| 5 | Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.
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| 6 | For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.
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| 7 | Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.
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| 8 | Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.
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| 9 | Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.
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| 10 | In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.
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| 11 | And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.
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| 12 | Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.
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| 13 | And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.
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| 14 | They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.
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| 15 | They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.
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| 16 | He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.
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| 17 | If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.
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| 18 | For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.
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| 19 | She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by her laws, and trust his soul.
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| 20 | Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,
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| 21 | And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.
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| 22 | But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.
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| 23 | Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.
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| 24 | For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.
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| 25 | For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that bringeth glory and grace.
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| 26 | Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.
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| 27 | Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:
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| 28 | And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.
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| 29 | For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.
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| 30 | In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.
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| 31 | Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.
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| 32 | Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive against the stream of the river.
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| 33 | Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.
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| 34 | Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.
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| 35 | Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, and oppressing them that are under thee.
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| 36 | Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldst give.
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Acknowledgement
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