Sirach 7
Good News Translation
Miscellaneous Advice
1-2 If you do no wrong, no wrong will ever come to you. 3 Do not plow the ground to plant seeds of injustice; you may reap a bigger harvest than you expect.
4 Don't ask the Lord for a place of honor or ask the king for an important position. 5 Don't try to convince the Lord that you are righteous or make a show of your wisdom before the king. 6 Don't set your heart on being a judge, unless you have the strength of character it takes to put an end to injustice. If you let yourself be influenced by someone in a position of power, your integrity will be damaged. 7 Don't commit any crime against the general public, and don't disgrace yourself among your townspeople.
8 Don't commit the same sin twice. The punishment you get the first time ought to be enough.
9 Don't think that God Most High is going to take into account how very generous you are and so accept any offering you decide to make.
10 Never get tired of praying, and never miss a chance to give to the poor.
11 Don't laugh at someone who has been humiliated. It is the Lord who humbles a person, but the Lord also raises him up again.
12 Don't think up lies to tell about your friends. 13 Don't tell lies at all. It never does any good.
14 In an official assembly, don't get up and talk a lot of nonsense. And don't repeat yourself when you pray.
15 Don't try to avoid farm work or other hard labor; the Most High has given us these jobs to do.
16 Don't join up with a crowd of sinners; remember that the Lord's punishment is sure to come.
17 Be very humble, because the decay of death awaits us all.[a]
Relations with Others
18 Don't betray a friend for money. Don't betray a real friend for all the gold in the world.
19 Don't miss your chance to marry a wise and good woman. A gracious wife is worth more than gold.
20 Don't mistreat servants who do their work well, or employees who do their best for you.
21 (A)Show the same love to wise servants that you would show to yourself,[b] and let them have their freedom.
22 Take good care of any animals you own. If they make money for you, keep them.
23 If you have sons, educate them. Teach them self-discipline while they are young.
24 If you have daughters, keep them virtuous, and don't be too indulgent with them. 25 When you give your daughter in marriage, you have finished a great task, but give her to a sensible man.
26 If you have a good wife, do not divorce her, but do not trust yourself to someone you don't love.
27 (B)Honor your father with all your heart, and never forget how your mother suffered when you were born. 28 Remember that you owe your life to them. How can you ever repay them for all they have done for you?
29 Fear the Lord with all your heart, and have respect for his priests. 30 Love your Creator with all your strength, and give his ministers your support. 31 Honor the Lord and respect the priests. Supply them with what you have been commanded to give: the first produce, the offering for sin, the shoulder of the sacrificial animal—all the required sacrifices and offerings.
32 Give your help to the poor, and the Lord will give you his perfect blessing. 33 Be generous to every living soul, and be gracious to the memory of the dead. 34 Show sympathy to those who have lost a loved one, and mourn with them. 35 Do not hesitate to visit the sick. You will be loved for things like these. 36 Whatever you do, remember that some day you must die. As long as you keep this in mind, you will never sin.
Footnotes
- Sirach 7:17 Hebrew the decay...all; Greek the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.
- Sirach 7:21 Hebrew Show the same love...yourself; Greek Show love to a wise servant.
Sirach 7
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Miscellaneous Advice
7 Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.
2 Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.
3 Do[a] not sow in the furrows of injustice,
and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.
4 Do not seek from the Lord high office,
or the seat of honor from the king.
5 Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord,
or display your wisdom before the king.
6 Do not seek to become a judge,
or you may be unable to root out injustice;
you may be partial to the powerful,
and so mar your integrity.
7 Commit no offense against the public,
and do not disgrace yourself among the people.
8 Do not commit a sin twice;
not even for one will you go unpunished.
9 Do not say, “He will consider the great number of my gifts,
and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”
10 Do not grow weary when you pray;
do not neglect to give alms.
11 Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,
for there is One who humbles and exalts.
12 Do not devise[b] a lie against your brother,
or do the same to a friend.
13 Refuse to utter any lie,
for it is a habit that results in no good.
14 Do not babble in the assembly of the elders,
and do not repeat yourself when you pray.
15 Do not hate hard labor
or farm work, which was created by the Most High.
16 Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners;
remember that retribution does not delay.
17 Humble yourself to the utmost,
for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.[c]
Relations with Others
18 Do not exchange a friend for money,
or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.
19 Do not dismiss[d] a wise and good wife,
for her charm is worth more than gold.
20 Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully,
or hired laborers who devote themselves to their task.
21 Let your soul love intelligent slaves;[e]
do not withhold from them their 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[f] from their youth.
24 Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,[g]
and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.
25 Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task;
but give her to a sensible man.
26 Do you have a wife who pleases you?[h] Do not divorce her;
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 it was of your parents[i] you were born;
how can you repay what they have given to you?
29 With all your soul fear the Lord,
and revere his priests.
30 With all your might love your Maker,
and do not neglect his ministers.
31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest,
and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:
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 out your hand to the poor,
so that your blessing may be complete.
33 Give graciously to all the living;
do not withhold kindness even from the dead.
34 Do not avoid those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.
35 Do not hesitate to visit the sick,
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.
Footnotes
- Sirach 7:3 Gk My child, do
- Sirach 7:12 Heb: Gk plow
- Sirach 7:17 Heb for the expectation of mortals is worms
- Sirach 7:19 Heb: Gk deprive yourself of
- Sirach 7:21 Heb Love a wise slave as yourself
- Sirach 7:23 Gk bend their necks
- Sirach 7:24 Gk body
- Sirach 7:26 Heb Syr lack who pleases you
- Sirach 7:28 Gk them
Sirach 7
Common English Bible
Practical advice
7 Don’t do evil things,
and evil will never catch up with you.
2 Keep your distance from anything unjust, and it will turn away from you.
3 Don’t sow in furrows of injustice,
and you won’t reap
evil things sevenfold.
4 Don’t seek political power from the Lord
or a seat of honor from the king.
5 Don’t justify yourself
in the Lord’s presence,
and don’t make a show of your wisdom
with a king.
6 Don’t aspire to become a judge;
you might not be strong enough
to get rid of injustice.
Perhaps you will be too cautious
in the presence of a powerful person
and bring a scandal on your good name.
7 Don’t sin against a city’s inhabitants,
and don’t bring yourself down
in their estimation.[a]
8 Don’t repeat a sin,
for you won’t be innocent
even of committing it the first time.
9 Don’t say,
“He will look at the heap of my gifts,
and when I make an offering
to the Most High, he will accept it.”
10 Don’t be timid in your prayer,
and don’t neglect caring for those in need.
11 Don’t mock a person
who is bitter in spirit;
for there’s one who humbles
and who exalts.
12 Don’t cultivate a lie against your relative
or do the same thing to a friend.
13 Don’t desire to tell a lie;
continuing in a lie results in no good.
14 Don’t babble when the elders
are assembled,
and don’t repeat yourself when praying.
15 Don’t hate hard work and farming,
which were created by the Most High.
16 Don’t count yourself
among a group of sinners;
remember that God’s anger won’t delay.
17 Humble your whole being
as much as possible,
because fire and worms
are the punishment of the ungodly.
Household, priests, and the poor
18 Don’t trade a friend for cash
or a genuine friend for the gold of Ophir.
19 Don’t neglect[b] a wise and good wife,
for her grace is worth more than gold.
20 Don’t abuse household slaves
who work hard
or laborers who devote themselves
to their work.
21 Cherish household servants
who are intelligent;
don’t deprive them of freedom.
22 Do you have cattle? Look after them.
If they are useful to you, keep them.
23 Do you have children? Instruct them.
Train them to be obedient[c]
from their youth.
24 Do you have daughters?
Be attentive to their chastity,[d]
and don’t be too cheerful with them.[e]
25 Give a daughter in marriage,
and you will have completed a great deed,
but present her
to an understanding husband.
26 Do you have a wife who is a soul mate?[f]
Don’t divorce her,
and don’t trust yourself to a woman
whom you hate.
27 Honor your father with all your heart,
and don’t forget
your mother’s labor pains.
28 Remember that you were born
because of your parents.
How will you pay them back
for what they have done for you?
29 Revere the Lord with your whole being,
and honor his priests.
30 With all your might
love the one who made you,
and don’t neglect his ministers.
31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest.
Give the priest his portion,
just as you were commanded:
early produce, a sin offering,
the gift of the shoulders,
the dedicatory offering,
and the early produce
from the holy things.
32 Extend your hand to the poor
so that your blessing may be complete.
33 The kindness of a gift
stands before all who are alive;
moreover, don’t withhold kindness
from the dead.
34 Walk beside those who weep,
and mourn with those who mourn.
35 Don’t hesitate to visit the sick,
because you will be loved
on account of these acts.
36 In all of your words,[g]
remember your end,
and you will never sin.
Footnotes
- Sirach 7:7 LXX in a crowd
- Sirach 7:19 Or reject
- Sirach 7:23 LXX Bend their necks
- Sirach 7:24 LXX body
- Sirach 7:24 LXX Don’t brighten your face toward them.
- Sirach 7:26 LXX like your soul; Heb whom you abhor
- Sirach 7:36 Heb deeds
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible