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