Sirach 4
Good News Translation
4 1 My child, don't prevent the poor from making a living, or keep them waiting in their need. 2 Never give a hungry person any cause for resentment or anger. 3 Don't add to the troubles of someone who is already desperate. If he is in need, don't put off giving to him. 4-5 Don't refuse to help a beggar who is in distress. Don't turn your back on a poor person or give him any reason to curse you. 6 If he becomes so bitter that he does curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer.
7 Make yourself popular in the synagogue. Bow your head to men of authority. 8 Listen to what the poor have to say, and answer them politely. 9 Protect people from those who want to wrong them, and be firm in your judgments. 10 Be like a father to orphans, and provide widows with the help their husbands can no longer give them. Then you will be like a child of the Most High, and he will love you more than your own mother does.
Wisdom as a Teacher
11 Wisdom takes care of those who look for her; she raises them to greatness. 12 Loving her is loving life itself; rising early to look for her is pure joy. 13 Anyone who obtains Wisdom will be greatly honored. Wherever he goes, the Lord will bless him. 14 Wisdom's servants are the servants of the Holy One, and the Lord loves everyone who loves her. 15 Those who obey her will give sound judgments;[a] those who pay attention to her have true security. 16 Put your trust in Wisdom, and you will possess her and pass her on to your descendants. 17 At first, Wisdom will lead you along difficult paths. She will make you so afraid that you will think you cannot go on. The discipline she demands will be tormenting, and she will put you to the test with her requirements until she trusts you[b] completely. 18 Then she will come to you with no delay, reveal her secrets to you, and make you happy. 19 But if you go astray, she will abandon you and let you go to your own ruin.
Self-confidence
20 Take advantage of opportunities, but guard yourself against evil. Don't underrate yourself. 21 Humility deserves honor and respect, but a low opinion of yourself leads to sin. 22 Do not let others have their way at your expense; do not bring on your own ruin by giving up your rights. 23 Never hesitate to speak out when the occasion[c] calls for it. Don't hide your wisdom.[d] 24 Your wisdom and education can be known only by what you say. 25 Do not, however, go against the truth, and remember that you do not know everything. 26 Don't be ashamed to confess your sins; there's no point in trying to stop a river from flowing. 27 Don't allow yourself to be dominated by someone who is stupid or show partiality to influential people. 28 Stand up for what is right, even if it costs you your life; the Lord God will be fighting on your side.
29 Don't be quick to speak or lazy and negligent in your work. 30 Don't act like a lion at home or be suspicious of your servants. 31 (A)Don't stick out your hand to get something if you're going to be tightfisted when the time comes to pay it back.
Footnotes
- Sirach 4:15 Hebrew give sound judgments; Greek judge nations.
- Sirach 4:17 she trusts you; or you trust her.
- Sirach 4:23 Probable text the occasion; Greek safety.
- Sirach 4:23 Hebrew Don't hide your wisdom; most Greek manuscripts do not have these words; other Greek manuscripts Don't hide your wisdom for the sake of appearances.
Sirach 4
New Revised Standard Version Updated 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.(A)
2 Do not grieve the hungry
or anger one in need.
3 Do not add to the troubles of the angry
or delay giving to the needy.(B)
4 Do not reject a suppliant in distress
or turn your face away from the poor.(C)
5 Do not avert your eye from the needy,
and give no one reason to curse you,(D)
6 for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
their Creator will hear their prayer.(E)
7 Endear yourself to the congregation;
bow your head low to the great.
8 Give a hearing to the poor,
and return their greeting kindly.
9 Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor,
and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.(F)
10 Be 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.(G)
The Rewards of Wisdom
11 Wisdom teaches[a] her children
and takes hold of those who seek her.(H)
12 Whoever loves her loves life,
and those who seek her from early morning will be filled with joy.(I)
13 Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
and the Lord blesses the place she[b] enters.(J)
14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;
the Lord loves those who love her.
15 Whoever obeys her will judge the nations,
and whoever listens to her will live securely.
16 If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;
their descendants will also obtain her.
17 For at first she will walk with them in disguise;
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.(K)
18 Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them
and will reveal her secrets to them.
19 If they go astray, she will forsake them
and hand them over to their ruin.
20 Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,
and do not be ashamed to be yourself.(L)
21 For there is a shame that leads to sin,
and there is a shame that is glory and favor.(M)
22 Do not show partiality to your own harm
or deference to your downfall.(N)
23 Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,[d]
and do not hide your wisdom.[e](O)
24 For wisdom becomes known through speech
and education through the words of the tongue.
25 Never speak against the truth,
but be ashamed of your ignorance.
26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,
and do not try to stop the current of a river.(P)
27 Do not subject yourself to a fool
or show partiality to a ruler.(Q)
28 Fight to the death for truth,
and the Lord God will fight for you.
Ben Sira 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
1 My child, do not mock the life of the poor;
do not keep needy eyes[a] waiting.(A)
2 Do not grieve the hungry,
nor anger the needy.
3 Do not aggravate a heart already angry,
nor delay giving to the needy.
4 A beggar’s request do not reject;
do not turn your face away from the poor.
5 From the needy do not turn your eyes;
do not give them reason to curse you.
6 If in their pain they cry out bitterly,
their Rock will hear the sound of their cry.
Social Conduct
7 Endear yourself to the assembly;
before the city’s ruler bow your head.
8 Give a hearing to the poor,
and return their greeting with deference;
9 Deliver the oppressed from their oppressors;(B)
right judgment should not be repugnant to you.
10 Be like a father to orphans,
and take the place of a husband to widows.
Then God will call you his child,
and he will be merciful to you and deliver you from the pit.
The Rewards of Wisdom[b]
11 Wisdom teaches her children
and admonishes all who can understand her.
12 Those who love her love life;
those who seek her out win the Lord’s favor.
13 Those who hold her fast will attain glory,
and they shall abide in the blessing of the Lord.
14 Those who serve her serve the Holy One;
those who love her the Lord loves.(C)
15 “Whoever obeys me will judge nations;
whoever listens to me will dwell in my inmost chambers.
16 If they remain faithful, they will possess me;
their descendants too will inherit me.
17 “I will walk with them in disguise,
and at first I will test them with trials.
Fear and dread I will bring upon them
and I will discipline them with my constraints.
When their hearts are fully with me,
18 then I will set them again on the straight path
and reveal my secrets to them.
19 But if they turn away from me, I will abandon them
and deliver them over to robbers.”
Sincerity and Justice[c]
20 My son, watch for the right time; fear what is evil;
do not bring shame upon yourself.
21 There is a shame heavy with guilt,
and a shame that brings glory and respect.
22 Show no favoritism to your own discredit;
let no one intimidate you to your own downfall.
23 Do not refrain from speaking at the proper time,
and do not hide your wisdom;
24 For wisdom becomes known through speech,
and knowledge through the tongue’s response.
25 Never speak against the truth,
but of your own ignorance be ashamed.
26 Do not be ashamed to acknowledge your sins,
and do not struggle against a rushing stream.
27 Do not abase yourself before a fool;
do not refuse to do so before rulers.
28 Even to the death, fight for what is right,
and the Lord will do battle for you.
29 Do not be haughty in your speech,
or lazy and slack in your deeds.
30 Do not be like a lion at home,
or sly and suspicious with your servants.
31 Do not let your hand be open to receive,
but clenched when it is time to give.
Footnotes
- 4:1 Needy eyes: when the poor look for help; cf. 18:18.
- 4:11–19 The Hebrew text in vv. 15–19 presents wisdom speaking in the first person, as in chap. 24. The precious fruits of wisdom—life, favor, glory, blessings, God’s love—arouse desire for her (vv. 11–14). Her disciples are like ministers (v. 14) and judges (v. 15), whose descendants have her for their heritage (v. 16). They enjoy happiness and learn her secrets after surviving her tests (vv. 17–18). Those who fail her are abandoned to destruction (v. 19).
- 4:20–31 The student of wisdom is warned about interior trials of discipline and external dangers to sincerity and justice, namely evil, human respect (vv. 20–22), compromise of liberty in speech and action (vv. 23–25), false shame (v. 26). The student must fight for the truth (vv. 25, 28), avoiding cynicism and laziness (v. 29), and inconsistency (v. 30).
Sirach 4
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Duties towards the Poor and the Oppressed
4 My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,
and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
2 Do not grieve the hungry,
or anger one in need.
3 Do not add to the troubles of the desperate,
or delay giving to the needy.
4 Do not reject a suppliant in distress,
or turn your face away from the poor.
5 Do not avert your eye from the needy,
and give no one reason to curse you;
6 for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
their Creator will hear their prayer.
7 Endear yourself to the congregation;
bow your head low to the great.
8 Give a hearing to the poor,
and return their greeting politely.
9 Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor;
and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.
10 Be 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
11 Wisdom teaches[a] her children
and gives help to those who seek her.
12 Whoever loves her loves life,
and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
13 Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
and the Lord blesses the place she[b] enters.
14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;
the Lord loves those who love her.
15 Those who obey her will judge the nations,
and all who listen to her will live secure.
16 If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;
their descendants will also obtain her.
17 For 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.
18 Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them,
and will reveal her secrets to them.
19 If they go astray she will forsake them,
and hand them over to their ruin.
20 Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,
and do not be ashamed to be yourself.
21 For there is a shame that leads to sin,
and there is a shame that is glory and favour.
22 Do not show partiality, to your own harm,
or deference, to your downfall.
23 Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,[d]
and do not hide your wisdom.[e]
24 For wisdom becomes known through speech,
and education through the words of the tongue.
25 Never speak against the truth,
but be ashamed 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 fool,
or show partiality to a ruler.
28 Fight to the death for 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,
or suspicious of your servants.
31 Do 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
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