1  Son, you should not cheat the poor out of alms, nor should you avert your eyes from a poor man.

1  My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.

2  You should not despise the hungry soul, and you should not aggravate a poor man in his need.

2  Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.

3  You should not afflict the heart of the needy, and you should not delay an offer to someone in anguish.

3  Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.

4  You should not make requests of one who is greatly troubled, and you should not avert your face from the indigent.

4  Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.

5  You should not avert your eyes from the needy out of anger. And you should not abandon those who seek help from you, so that they speak curses behind your back.

5  Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee

6  For the pleadings of him who speaks curses of you, in the bitterness of his soul, will be heeded. For the One who made him will heed him.

6  For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.

7  Make yourself a friend to the congregation of the poor, and humble your soul before an elder, and humble your head before the great.

7  Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.

8  Turn your ear without sadness toward the poor, and repay your debt, and respond to him peacefully in meekness.

8  Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.

9  Free him who suffers injury at the hand of the arrogant, and do not carry animosity in your soul.

9  Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgement.

10  In judging, be merciful to the orphan, like a father, and be merciful to their mother, like a husband.

10  Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.

11  And then you shall be like an obedient son of the Most High, and he will take pity on you more than a mother would.

12  Wisdom breathes life into her sons, and she lifts up those who are seeking her, and she will precede them in the way of justice.

Sir4:11  Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek her.

13  And he who loves her loves life. And those who watch for her shall embrace her delights.

Sir4:12  He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.

14  Those who hold to her will inherit life. And whatever place she enters, God will bless.

Sir4:13  He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.

15  Those who serve her will yield to what is holy. And God loves those who love wisdom.

Sir4:14  They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the Lord doth love.

16  He who listens to her shall judge the nations. And he who gazes upon her will remain secure.

Sir4:15  Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.

17  If he believes in her, he will inherit her, and whatever arises from him will be confirmed.

Sir4:16  If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.

18  For she walks with him through temptation, and she chooses him from the beginning.

Sir4:17  For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her laws.

19  She will lead fear and dread and trials over him, and she will crucify him with the tribulation of her doctrine, until she has tested him in his thoughts and she can trust in his soul.

20  And then she will strengthen him, and lead him along a straight path, and rejoice in him.

Sir4:18  Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.

21  And she will disclose her secrets to him, and she will store up treasure, of the knowledge and understanding of justice, in him.

22  But if he has wandered astray, she will leave him behind, and she will deliver him into the hands of his enemy.

Sir4:19  But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.

23  Son, be continually observant, and keep away from evil.

Sir4:20  Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul.

24  For the sake of your soul, you should not be ashamed to speak the truth.

25  For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory and grace.

26  You should not accept a face contrary to your own face, nor should you accept a lie contrary to your own soul.

Sir4:22  Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.

27  You should not enjoy the fall of your neighbor.

28  Neither should you withhold words at an opportunity for salvation. You should not conceal your wisdom in her beauty.

Sir4:23  And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.

29  For wisdom is discerned within speech. And understanding and knowledge and doctrine are discerned in the words of those who understand and by their steadfastness in the works of justice.

Sir4:24  For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.

30  You should not contradict a word of truth in any way. Otherwise, by a falsehood born of ignorance, you will be confounded.

Sir4:25  In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.

31  You should not be ashamed to confess your sins, but do not subject yourself to any man because of sin.

Sir4:26  Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.

32  Do not choose to stand against the face of the powerful, for you should not strive against the current of the river.

Sir4:27  Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.

33  Suffer for justice, on behalf of your soul, and struggle, even unto death, on behalf of justice, and God will fight against your enemies on your behalf.

Sir4:28  Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.

34  Do not choose to be quick with your words, nor unproductive or neglectful in your works.

Sir4:29  Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.

35  Do not choose to be like a lion in your house, distressing those of your household, and oppressing those who are subject to you.

Sir4:30  Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.

36  Do not let your hand be open when receiving, but closed when giving.

Sir4:31  Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.

5:1  Do not choose to seek iniquitous possessions, and you should not say: “I have all I need in life.” For it will be of no benefit to you in the time of retribution and darkness.

1  Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life.

5:2  You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart.

2  Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart

5:3  And you should not say: “How powerful am I?” or, “Who will cast me down because of my deeds?” For God will vindicate with vengeance.

3  And say not, Who shall control me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride.

5:4  You should not say, “I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?” For the Most High is a patient recompensor.

4  Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.

5:5  Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin.

5  Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin

5:6  And you should not say: “The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins.”

6  And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners.

5:7  For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners.

5:8  You should not delay being converted to the Lord, and you should not set it aside from day to day.

Sir5:7  Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.

5:9  For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you.

5:10  Do not choose to be anxious for unjust wealth. For these things will not benefit you in the day of darkness and retribution.

Sir5:8  Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity.

5:11  You should not winnow in every wind, and you should not go forth into every path. For so is every sinner proven by his duplicitous tongue.

Sir5:9  Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.

5:12  Be steadfast in the way of the Lord and in the truth of your understanding and knowledge, and let words of peace and justice overtake you.

Sir5:10  Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.

5:13  Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom.

Sir5:11  Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.

5:14  If you understand, then answer your neighbor. But if you do not, then let your hand be over your mouth, so that you are not caught by an inept word, and then confounded.

Sir5:12  If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

5:15  Honor and glory are in the words of those who understand, yet truly, the tongue of the imprudent man is his undoing.

Sir5:13  Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall.

5:16  You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded.

Sir5:14  Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.

5:17  For confusion and remorse is upon a thief, and a wicked mark is upon the double-tongued; but for the whisperer, there is hatred and animosity and disgrace.

5:18  Justify the small and the great similarly.

Sir5:15  Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.

6:1  Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued.

1  Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

6:2  You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness,

2  Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone.

6:3  which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert.

3  Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

6:4  For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious.

4  A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

6:5  A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man.

5  Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

6:6  Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor.

6  Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

6:7  If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily.

7  If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

6:8  For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation.

8  For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

6:9  And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults.

9  And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.

6:10  And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need.

10  Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

6:11  A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household.

11  But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

6:12  If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship.

12  If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.

6:13  Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends.

13  Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

6:14  A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure.

6:15  Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity.

15  Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

6:16  A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one.

6:17  He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him.

17  Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

6:18  Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs.

18  My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

6:19  Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then wait for her good fruits.

19  Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

6:20  For in doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce.

20  She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

6:21  How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her.

21  She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

6:22  She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay.

22  For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.

6:23  For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God.

23  Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

6:24  Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice.

24  And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.

6:25  Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains.

25  Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

6:26  Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings.

26  Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.

6:27  Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength.

27  Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

6:28  Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her.

28  For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

6:29  For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight.

29  Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

6:30  Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be a robe of glory.

30  For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

6:31  For in her is the beauty of life, and her bindings are a healing bandage.

31  Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.

6:32  You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing.

32  My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.

6:33  Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise.

33  If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,

6:34  If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise.

34  Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

6:35  Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you.

35  Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

6:36  And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down the steps of his doors.

36  And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

6:37  Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you.

37  Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.

7:1  Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of you.

1  Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.

7:2  Withdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from you.

2  Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.

7:3  Son, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfold.

3  My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.

7:4  Do not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the king.

4  Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.

7:5  You should not justify yourself before God, for he is the Knower of hearts. And by no means should you wish to seem wise before the king.

5  justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.

7:6  Do not seek to become a judge, unless you have sufficient strength to shatter iniquities. Otherwise, you might fear the face of the powerful, and so establish a scandal within your integrity.

6  Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.

7:7  You should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the people.

7  Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.

7:8  And you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunished.

8  Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.

7:9  Do not be cowardly in your soul.

9  Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.

7:10  You should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give alms.

10  Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.

7:11  You should not say: “God will look with favor on the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the most high God, he will accept my gift.”

7:12  You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing God.

Sir7:11  Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.

7:13  Do not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friend.

Sir7:12  Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.

7:14  Do not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not good.

Sir7:13  Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.

7:15  Do not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayers.

Sir7:14  Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.

7:16  You should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most High.

Sir7:15  Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.

7:17  You should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplined.

Sir7:16  Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.

7:18  Remember wrath. For it will not be delayed.

Sir7:17  Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.

7:19  Humble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and worms.

7:20  Do not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of gold.

Sir7:18  Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.

7:21  Do not choose to depart from a good and understanding wife, whom you have been allotted in the fear of the Lord. For the grace of her modesty is above gold.

Sir7:19  Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.

7:22  You should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to you.

Sir7:20  Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.

7:23  Let an understanding servant be loved by you like your own soul. You should not cheat him out of freedom, nor abandon him to destitution.

Sir7:21  Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.

7:24  Are cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with you.

Sir7:22  Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.

7:25  Are sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhood.

Sir7:23  Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.

7:26  Are daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward them.

Sir7:24  Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.

7:27  Give your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great work.

Sir7:25  Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.

7:28  If a wife in accord with your soul is yours, you should not reject her. But do not entrust yourself to her who is hateful.

Sir7:26  Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.

7:29  With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your mother.

Sir7:27  Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.

7:30  Remember that you would not have been born except through them. And so, give back to them as they also have done for you.

Sir7:28  Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?

7:31  With all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holy.

Sir7:29  Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.

7:32  With all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministers.

Sir7:30  Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.

7:33  Honor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strength.

Sir7:31  Fear the Lord, and honour the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.

7:34  Give them their portion, just as it has been commanded of you, from the first-fruits and from the purifications. And for your ignorant offenses, purify yourself with a smaller offering.

7:35  You should offer to the Lord the gift of your strength, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first-fruits of what is holy.

7:36  And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfected.

Sir7:32  And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.

7:37  A gift has grace in the sight of all the living, but you should not prohibit grace for the dead.

Sir7:33  A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.

7:38  You should not fail to console those who are weeping, nor to walk with those who are mourning.

Sir7:34  Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.

7:39  Do not let yourself be slow to visit the sick. For in this way, you will be confirmed in love.

Sir7:35  Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.

7:40  In all your works, remember your very end, and so you will not sin, unto eternity.

Sir7:36  Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.