Catholic Evangelization Training Center
Training in the NEW Evangelization
Sirach Chapter 4-7
1 My son, deprive not the poor of his living, and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
2 Do not grieve the one who is hungry, nor anger a man in want.
3 Do not add to the troubles of an angry mind, nor delay your gift to a beggar.
4 Do not reject an afflicted suppliant, nor turn your face away from the poor.
5 Do not avert your eye from the needy, nor give a man occasion to curse you;
6 for if in bitterness of soul he calls down a curse upon you, his Creator will hear his prayer.
7 Make yourself beloved in the congregation; bow your head low to a great man.
8 Incline your ear to the poor, and answer him peaceably and gently.
9 Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of the wrongdoer; and do not be fainthearted in judging a case.
10 Be like a father to orphans, and instead of 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.
11 Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her.
12 Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.
13 Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord will bless the place she enters.
14 Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.
15 He who obeys her will judge the nations, and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure.
16 If he has faith in her he will obtain her; and his descendants will remain in possession of her.
17 For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths, she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, and will torment him by her discipline until she trusts him, and she will test him with her ordinances.
18 Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him, and will reveal her secrets to him.
19 If he goes astray she will forsake him, and hand him over to his ruin.
20 Observe the right time, and beware of evil; and do not bring shame on yourself.
21 For there is a shame which brings sin, and there is a shame which is glory and favor.
22 Do not show partiality, to your own harm, or deference, to your downfall.
23 Do not refrain from speaking at the crucial time, and do not hide your wisdom.
24 For wisdom is known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.
25 Never speak against the truth, but be mindful of your ignorance.
26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, and do not try to stop the current of a river.
27 Do not subject yourself to a foolish fellow, nor show partiality to a ruler.
28 Strive even to death for the truth and the Lord God will fight for you.
29 Do not be reckless in your speech, or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.
30 Do not be like a lion in your home, nor be a faultfinder with your servants.
31 Let not your hand be extended to receive, but withdrawn when it is time to repay.
1 Do not set your heart on your wealth, nor say, "I have enough."
2 Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.
3 Do not say, "Who will have power over me?" for the Lord will surely punish you.
4 Do not say, "I sinned, and what happened to me?" for the Lord is slow to anger.
5 Do not be so confident of atonement that you add sin to sin.
6 Do not say, "His mercy is great, he will forgive the multitude of my sins," for both mercy and wrath are with him, and his anger rests on sinners.
7 Do not delay to turn to the Lord, nor postpone it from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will go forth, and at the time of punishment you will perish.
8 Do not depend on dishonest wealth, for it will not benefit you in the day of calamity.
9 Do not winnow with every wind, nor follow every path: the double-tongued sinner does that.
10 Be steadfast in your understanding, and let your speech be consistent.
11 Be quick to hear, and be deliberate in answering.
12 If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand on your mouth.
13 Glory and dishonor come from speaking, and a man's tongue is his downfall.
14 Do not be called a slanderer, and do not lie in ambush with your tongue; for shame comes to the thief, and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.
15 In great and small matters do not act amiss,
1 and do not become an enemy instead of a friend; for a bad name incurs shame and reproach: so fares the double-tongued sinner.
2 Do not exalt yourself through your soul's counsel, lest your soul be torn in pieces like a bull.
3 You will devour your leaves and destroy your fruit, and will be left like a withered tree.
4 An evil soul will destroy him who has it, and make him the laughingstock of his enemies.
5 A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
7 When you gain a friend, gain him through testing, and do not trust him hastily.
8 For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
9 And there is a friend who changes into an enemy, and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace.
10 And there is a friend who is a table companion, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
11 In prosperity he will make himself your equal, and be bold with your servants;
12 but if you are brought low he will turn against you, and will hide himself from your presence.
13 Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.
15 There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence.
16 A faithful friend is an elixir of life; and those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
18 My son, from your youth up choose instruction, and until you are old you will keep finding wisdom.
19 Come to her like one who plows and sows, and wait for her good harvest. For in her service you will toil a little while, and soon you will eat of her produce.
20 She seems very harsh to the uninstructed; a weakling will not remain with her.
21 She will weigh him down like a heavy testing stone, and he will not be slow to cast her off.
22 For wisdom is like her name, and is not manifest to many.
23 Listen, my son, and accept my judgment; do not reject my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar.
25 Put your shoulder under her and carry her, and do not fret under her bonds.
26 Come to her with all your soul, and keep her ways with all your might.
27 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you; and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28 For at last you will find the rest she gives, and she will be changed into joy for you.
29 Then her fetters will become for you a strong protection, and her collar a glorious robe.
30 Her yoke is a golden ornament, and her bonds are a cord of blue.
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe, and put her on like a crown of gladness.
32 If you are willing, my son, you will be taught, and if you apply yourself you will become clever.
33 If you love to listen you will gain knowledge, and if you incline your ear you will become wise.
34 Stand in the assembly of the elders. Who is wise? Cleave to him.
35 Be ready to listen to every narrative, and do not let wise proverbs escape you.
36 If you see an intelligent man, visit him early; let your foot wear out his doorstep.
37 Reflect on the statutes of the Lord, and meditate at all times on his commandments. It is he who will give insight to your mind, and your desire for wisdom will be granted.
1 Do no evil, and evil will never befall you.
2 Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.
3 My son, do not sow the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.
4 Do not seek from the Lord the highest office, nor the seat of honor from the king.
5 Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord, nor display your wisdom before the king.
6 Do not seek to become a judge, lest you be unable to remove iniquity, lest you be partial to a powerful man, and thus put a blot on your integrity.
7 Do not offend against the public, and do not disgrace yourself among the people.
8 Do not commit a sin twice; even for one you will not go unpunished.
9 Do not say, "He will consider the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the Most High God he will accept it."
10 Do not be fainthearted in your prayer, nor neglect to give alms.
11 Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in soul, for there is One who abases and exalts.
12 Do not devise a lie against your brother, nor do the like to a friend.
13 Refuse to utter any lie, for the habit of lying serves no good.
14 Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders, nor repeat yourself in your prayer.
15 Do not hate toilsome labor, or farm work, which were created by the Most High.
16 Do not count yourself among the crowd of sinners; remember that wrath does not delay.
17 Humble yourself greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.
18 Do not exchange a friend for money, or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.
19 Do not deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her charm is worth more than gold.
20 Do not abuse a servant who performs his work faithfully, or a hired laborer who devotes himself to you.
21 Let your soul love an intelligent servant; do not withhold from him his freedom.
22 Do you have cattle? Look after them; if they are profitable to you, keep them.
23 Do you have children? Discipline them, and make them obedient from their youth.
24 Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity, and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.
25 Give a daughter in marriage; you will have finished a great task. But give her to a man of understanding.
26 If you have a wife who pleases you, do not cast her out; but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.
27 With all your heart honor your father, and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.
28 Remember that through your parents you were born; and what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?
29 With all your soul fear the Lord, and honor his priests.
30 With all your might love your Maker, and do not forsake his ministers.
31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest, and give him his portion, as is commanded you: the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders, the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.
32 Stretch forth your hand to the poor, so that your blessing may be complete.
33 Give graciously to all the living, and withhold not kindness from the dead.
34 Do not fail those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn.
35 Do not shrink from visiting a sick man, because for such deeds you will be loved.
36 In all you do, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin.