Sirach 4

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Duties toward the Poor and the Oppressed

4 My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,
    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 desperate,
    or delay giving to the needy.
⁴Do not reject a suppliant in distress,
    or turn your face away from the poor.
⁵Do not avert your eye from the needy,
    and give no one reason to curse you;
⁶for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
    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 politely.
⁹Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor;
    and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.
¹⁰Be a father to orphans,
    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^[a] her children
    and gives help to those who seek her.
¹²Whoever loves her loves life,
    and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
¹³Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
    and the Lord blesses the place she^[b] enters.
¹⁴Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;
    the Lord loves those who love her.
¹⁵Those who obey her will judge the nations,
    and all who listen to her will live secure.
¹⁶If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;
    their descendants will also obtain her.
¹⁷For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths;
    she will bring fear and dread upon them,
and will torment them by her discipline
    until she trusts them,^[c]
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,
    and do not be ashamed to be yourself.
²¹For there is a shame that leads to sin,
    and there is a shame that is glory and favor.
²²Do not show partiality, to your own harm,
    or deference, to your downfall.
²³Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,^[d]
    and do not hide your wisdom.^[e]
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,
    and do not try to stop the current of a river.
²⁷Do not subject yourself to a fool,
    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,
    or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.
³⁰Do not be like a lion in your home,
    or suspicious of your servants.
³¹Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive
    and closed when it is time to give.

Footnotes

Sirach 4:11 Heb Syr: Gk exalts
Sirach 4:13 Or he
Sirach 4:17 Or until they remain faithful in their heart
Sirach 4:23 Heb: Gk at a time of salvation
Sirach 4:23 So some Gk Mss and Heb Syr Lat: Other Gk Mss lack and do not hide your wisdom

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

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.