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Today's Readings
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Saturday, 19th October 2024 --- 9 Babah 1741
Sirach 1 : 20 - 2 : 15
Chapter 1
20 | To fear God is the fulness of wisdom, and fulness is from the fruits thereof.
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21 | She shall fill all her house with her increase, and the storehouses with her treasures.
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22 | The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, filling up peace and the fruit of salvation:
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23 | And it hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts of God.
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24 | Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence: and exalteth the glory of them that hold her.
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25 | The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: and the branches thereof are longlived.
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26 | In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination.
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27 | The fear of the Lord driveth out sin:
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28 | For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the wrath of his high spirits is his ruin.
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29 | A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy shall be restored to him.
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30 | A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
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31 | In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of discipline:
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32 | But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner.
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33 | Son, if thou desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will give her to thee.
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34 | For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which is agreeable to him,
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35 | Is faith, and meekness: and he will fill up his treasures.
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36 | Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not to him with a double heart.
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37 | Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not thy lips be a stumblingblock to thee.
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38 | Watch over them, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul,
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39 | And God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation.
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40 | Because thou camest to the Lord wickedly, and thy heart is full of guile and deceit.
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Chapter 2
1 | Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation.
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2 | Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive the words of understanding: and make not haste in the time of clouds.
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3 | Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end.
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4 | Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience.
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5 | For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
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6 | Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.
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7 | Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from him, lest ye fall.
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8 | Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be made void.
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9 | Ye that fear the Lord, hope in him: and mercy shall come to you for your delight.
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10 | Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be enlightened.
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11 | My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded.
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12 | For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been forsaken? or who hath called upon him, and he despised him?
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13 | For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in truth.
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14 | Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips, and to the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two ways.
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15 | Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God: and therefore they shall not be protected by him.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page