Sirach 34:9-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Experience as a Teacher
9 People who have traveled[a] know many things,
and those with much experience know what they are talking about.(A)
10 The inexperienced know few things,
11 but those who have traveled acquire much cleverness.(B)
12 I have seen many things in my travels,
and I understand more than I can express.
13 I have often been in danger of death
but have escaped because of these experiences.(C)
Fear the Lord
14 The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,(D)
15 for their hope is in him who saves them.
16 Those who fear the Lord will not be timid
or play the coward, for he is their hope.(E)
17 Happy are souls that fear the Lord!
18 To whom do they look? And who is their support?
19 The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him,
a mighty shield and strong support,
a shelter from scorching heat and a shade from noonday sun,
a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.(F)
20 He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle;
he gives health and life and blessing.(G)
Offering Sacrifices
21 If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods, the offering is blemished;[b](H)
22 the gifts[c] of the lawless are not acceptable.
23 The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly,
nor for a multitude of sacrifices does he forgive sins.(I)
24 Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes
is the person who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.(J)
25 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor;
whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.
26 To take away a neighbor’s living is to commit murder;(K)
27 to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood.(L)
28 When one builds and another tears down,
what do they gain but hard work?
29 When one prays and another curses,
to whose voice will the Lord listen?
30 If one washes after touching a corpse and touches it again,
what has been gained by washing?(M)
31 So if one fasts for his sins
and goes again and does the same things,
who will listen to his prayer?
And what has he gained by humbling himself?(N)
Acts 22:23-23:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
23 And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air,(A) 24 the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him. 25 But when they had tied him up with straps,[a] Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman person who is uncondemned?”(B) 26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? This man is a Roman.” 27 The tribune came and asked Paul,[b] “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” 29 Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman and that he had bound him.
Paul before the Council
30 Since he wanted to find out what Paul[c] was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them.(C)
23 While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, “Brothers,[d] up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.”(D) 2 Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.(E) 3 At this Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?”(F) 4 Those standing nearby said, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.’ ”(G)
6 When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, “Brothers,[e] I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection[f] of the dead.”(H) 7 When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)(I) 9 Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(J) 10 When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.(K)
11 That night the Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”(L)
Sirach 35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Law and Sacrifices
35 The one who keeps the law makes many offerings;(A)
2 one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.(B)
3 The one who returns a kindness offers choice flour,(C)
4 and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
5 To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,
and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.(D)
6 Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,(E)
7 for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the commandment.
8 The offering of the righteous enriches the altar,
and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.(F)
9 The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable,
and it will never be forgotten.(G)
10 Be generous when you worship the Lord,
and do not skimp the first fruits of your hands.(H)
11 With every gift show a cheerful face
and dedicate your tithe with gladness.(I)
12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you
and as generously as you can afford.(J)
13 For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.(K)
Divine Justice
14 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it,
15 and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice,
for the Lord is the judge,
and with him there is no partiality.(L)
16 He will not show partiality to the poor,
but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.(M)
17 He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan
or the widow when she pours out her complaint.(N)
18 Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek
19 as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?
20 Those whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted,
and their prayers will reach to the clouds.
21 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds,
and it will not rest until it reaches its goal;
it will not desist until the Most High responds(O)
22 and does justice for the righteous and executes judgment.
Indeed, the Lord will not delay,
and like a warrior[a] he will not be patient
until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful(P)
23 and repays vengeance on the nations,
until he destroys the multitude of the insolent
and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous,(Q)
24 until he repays mortals according to their deeds
and the works of all according to their thoughts,(R)
25 until he judges the case of his people
and makes them rejoice in his mercy.
26 His mercy is as welcome in time of distress
as clouds of rain in time of drought.(S)
Footnotes
- 35.22 Heb: Gk and with them
Acts 23:12-35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Plot to Kill Paul
12 In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.(A) 13 There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul.(B) 15 Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives.”(C)
16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul.(D) 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.”(E) 19 The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case.(F) 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.”(G) 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of this.”
Paul Sent to Felix the Governor
23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen.(H) 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and take him safely to Felix the governor.”(I) 25 He wrote a letter to this effect:
26 “Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.(J) 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman, I came with the guard and rescued him.(K) 28 Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council.(L) 29 I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.(M) 30 When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”[a](N)
31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(O) 33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.(P) 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,(Q) 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.[b](R)
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