Care for the Poor and Oppressed
1 My son, don’t deprive a poor person of a livelihood. Don’t make the eyes of the needy wait long. 2 Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful, or provoke a man in his distress. 3 Don’t add more trouble to a heart that is provoked. Don’t put off giving to him who is in need. 4 Don’t reject someone pleading in distress. Don’t turn your face away from a poor man. 5 Don’t turn your eye away from one who asks. Give no one a reason to curse you. 6 For if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul, he who made him will hear his plea.
7 Endear yourself to the assembly. Bow your head to an important man. 8 Listen to a poor man. Answer him with peaceful words in humility. 9 Rescue the victim from the wrongdoer’s power. Don’t be hesitant in giving judgment. 10 Be like a father to the fatherless, and like a husband to their mother. So you will be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than your mother does.
Wisdom’s Rewards and Discipline
11 Wisdom exalts her sons, and takes hold of those who seek her. 12 He who loves her loves life. Those who seek her early will be filled with gladness. 13 He who holds firmly to her will inherit glory. Where he enters, the Lord will bless. 14 Those who serve her serve the Holy One. The Lord loves those who love her. 15 He who listens to her will judge the nations. He who pays attention to her will live securely. 16 If he trusts her, he will inherit her, and his descendants will possess her. 17 For at first she will walk with him in crooked ways, and will bring fear and dread on him, and torment him with her discipline, until she can trust his soul and test him by her judgments. 18 Then she will bring him back to the straight path, and will make him glad, and reveal to him her secrets. 19 If he goes astray, she will abandon him, and hand him over to his downfall.
Courage and Honesty
20 Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul. 21 For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace. 22 Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul. Don’t honor anyone in a way that causes your downfall. 23 Don’t hold back from speaking when it can bring safety. Don’t hide your wisdom to keep up appearances. 24 For wisdom will be known by speech, and instruction by the word of the tongue. 25 Don’t speak against the truth and be shamed for your ignorance. 26 Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. Don’t fight the river’s current. 27 Don’t lie down for a fool to trample on. Don’t be partial to someone powerful. 28 Strive for the truth to the point of death, and the Lord God will fight for you.
Speech and Conduct
29 Don’t be hasty with your tongue, or lazy and negligent in your deeds. 30 Don’t be like a lion in your house, or suspicious of your servants. 31 Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when you should repay.
Texts in conversation
Compare Jesus Ben Sira, Sirach 4:9 and Ambrose, On the Duty of the Clergy 1.63
Deuterocanon · Early Christian
Summary
Passages
Jesus Ben Sira, Sirach 4:9
Deuterocanon · Ben Sira, EcclesiasticusBow your head to an important man. 8 Listen to a poor man.
Answer him with peaceful words in humility. 9 Rescue the victim from the wrongdoer’s power.
Don’t be hesitant in giving judgment. 10 Be like a father to the fatherless,
and like a husband to their mother.
So you will be like a son of the Most High,
and he will love you more than your mother does. 11 Wisdom exalts her sons,
and takes hold of those who seek her.
Ambrose, On the Duty of the Clergy 1.63
Early ChristianReferences
References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.
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