Ecclesiasticus, 4

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

1. My son, do not deny the poor his food and do not make the man who looks at you with pleading eyes wait.

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

2. Do not sadden the hungry person nor annoy anyone who is in need.

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

3. Do not exasperate an angry man nor withhold alms from the beggar.

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

4. Do not drive away the beggar who is weighed down with afflictions, nor turn away your face from the poor;

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

5. do not snub the needy nor give anyone a reason to curse you.

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

6. If someone curses you in the bitterness of his heart, the Creator will hear his prayer.

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

7. Make yourself acceptable to the community; bow your head before the one in authority.

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

8. Listen to the poor man and reply to him with kind words and with peace.

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

9. Deliver the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor. Do not be weak when you administer justice.

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.

10. Be like a father towards orphans and like a husband towards their mothers. Then you will be like a son of the Most High and he will love you more than your own mother.

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

11. Wisdom brings up her children and takes care of those who look for her.

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

12. Whoever loves her loves life. Those who rise early in the morning in search of her will be filled with joy.

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

13. Whoever possesses her will have glory and wherever he goes blessings will follow.

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

14. Those who serve her are ministers of the Holy One; those who love her are loved of the Lord.

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

15. He who listens to her will have good judgment. He who obeys her will rest in safety.

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

16. Whoever trusts in her will possess her and his children after him will inherit her.

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.

17. For in the beginning she will lead him by rough paths, causing him to fear and be terrified; she will plague him with her discipline until she can count on him; and she will put him to the test by her demands.

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

18. Then she will lead him on a level path, give him joy and reveal her secrets to him.

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

19. But if he wanders from the path, she will abandon him and allow him to be lost.

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

20. In every situation weigh the pros and cons and avoid evil. A wrong kind of shame could harm you.

21. For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.

21. There is a shame which leads to sin and there is a shame which merits praise and respect.

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

22. Do not act against your better self to win favor from others. Do not let this kind of shame lead you into sin.

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

23. Do not remain silent when it is necessary to speak. Do not, through pride, hide your wisdom.

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

24. It is in speech that wisdom is recognized and learning in the spoken discourse.

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

25. Do not contradict the truth; rather confess your lack of knowledge.

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

26. Have no shame in confessing your sins, do not swim against the tide.

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

27. Do not cringe before a foolish man; do not be influenced by the powerful.

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

28. Fight for the truth till death and the Lord will fight for you.

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

29. Do not be daring in your speech, but lazy and negligent in works.

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

30. Do not be like a lion in your household, finding fault with your servants and oppressing those under you.

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

31. Do not open your hand to receive and keep it closed when you should give.