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Chapter 2

Trust in God

My child, when you come to serve the Lord,[a]
    prepare yourself for trials.(A)
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
    and do not be impetuous in time of adversity.
Cling to him, do not leave him,
    that you may prosper in your last days.

Accept whatever happens to you;
    in periods of humiliation be patient.
For in fire gold is tested,
    and the chosen, in the crucible of humiliation.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:1–11 Serving the Lord is not without its trials (v. 1); but no matter what happens, the genuine believer will remain sincere, steadfast, and faithful (vv. 2–3). Misfortune and humiliation are means of purification to prove one’s worth (vv. 4–5). Ben Sira believed that patience and unwavering trust in God are ultimately rewarded with the benefits of God’s mercy and of lasting joy (vv. 6–11).
'Sirach 2:1-5' not found for the version: New International Version.