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Chapter 5

Against Presumption[a]

Do not rely on your wealth,
    or say, “I have the power.”(A)
Do not rely on your strength
    in following the desires of your heart.
Do not say, “Who can prevail against me?”
    for the Lord will exact punishment.
Do not say, “I have sinned, yet what has happened to me?”
    for the Lord is slow to anger!
Do not be so confident of forgiveness
    that you add sin upon sin.
Do not say, “His mercy is great;
    my many sins he will forgive.”
For mercy and anger alike are with him;
    his wrath comes to rest on the wicked.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:1–8 The vices of the rich are pride and independence (vv. 1–2), presumption (v. 3), false security (vv. 4–6), and impenitence (v. 7), which cannot escape the divine wrath (vv. 7–8). Cf. Prv 18:23; 19:1; 28:6.
'Sirach 5:1-6' not found for the version: New International Version.