Sirach 4

Sirach 4

Duties toward the Poor and the Oppressed

¹My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,[#Lev 19.13]

and do not keep needy eyes waiting.

²Do not grieve the hungry

or anger one in need.

³Do not add to the troubles of the angry[#Prov 3.27, 28]

or delay giving to the needy.

⁴Do not reject a suppliant in distress[#Tob 4.7]

or turn your face away from the poor.

⁵Do not avert your eye from the needy,[#Prov 28.27]

and give no one reason to curse you,

⁶for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,[#Deut 15.9; Job 34.28; Prov 28.27; Jas 5.4]

their Creator will hear their prayer.

⁷Endear yourself to the congregation;

bow your head low to the great.

⁸Give a hearing to the poor,

and return their greeting kindly.

⁹Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor,[#Isa 1.17; Jer 22.3]

and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.

¹⁰Be a father to orphans,[#Job 31.18; Isa 49.15; Lk 6.35; Jas 1.27]

and be like a husband to their mother;

you will then be like a son of the Most High,

and he will love you more than does your mother.

The Rewards of Wisdom

¹¹Wisdom teaches her children[#Prov 4.8; Sir 6.27; #4.11 Heb Syr: Gk exalts]

and takes hold of those who seek her.

¹²Whoever loves her loves life,[#Prov 3.18; 8.17; Sir 32.14]

and those who seek her from early morning will be filled with joy.

¹³Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,[#Prov 3.35]

and the Lord blesses the place she enters.

¹⁴Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;

the Lord loves those who love her.

¹⁵Whoever obeys her will judge the nations,

and whoever listens to her will live securely.

¹⁶If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;

their descendants will also obtain her.

¹⁷For at first she will walk with them in disguise;[#Heb 12.13]

she will bring fear and dread upon them

and will torment them by her discipline

until she trusts them,

and she will test them with her ordinances.

¹⁸Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them

and will reveal her secrets to them.

¹⁹If they go astray, she will forsake them

and hand them over to their ruin.

²⁰Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,[#Sir 41.16; Col 4.5]

and do not be ashamed to be yourself.

²¹For there is a shame that leads to sin,[#Sir 20.22; 42.1–8]

and there is a shame that is glory and favor.

²²Do not show partiality to your own harm[#v 27 ; Sir 42.1]

or deference to your downfall.

²³Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,[#Lev 19.17; #4.23 Heb: Gk at a time of salvation]

and do not hide your wisdom.

²⁴For wisdom becomes known through speech

and education through the words of the tongue.

²⁵Never speak against the truth,

but be ashamed of your ignorance.

²⁶Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,[#Prov 28.13; Jas 5.16; 1 Jn 1.8, 9]

and do not try to stop the current of a river.

²⁷Do not subject yourself to a fool[#v 22 ; Jas 2.9]

or show partiality to a ruler.

²⁸Fight to the death for truth,

and the Lord God will fight for you.

²⁹Do not be reckless in your speech[#Prov 29.20; Sir 1.29; 5.13; Jas 1.19]

or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.

³⁰Do not be like a lion in your home[#Prov 28.15; Eph 6.9]

or suspicious of your slaves.

³¹Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive[#Sir 29.2; Acts 20.35]

and closed when it is time to give back.