Ecclesiasticus, 35

1. He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.

1. Keeping the Law is worth many offerings. Being faithful to the commandments is like a peace offering.

2. He that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise.

2. Returning kindness is an offering of fine flour; giving alms is a sacrifice of praise.

3. To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.

3. Renouncing sin pleases the Lord, and shunning injustice is a sacrifice of atonement.

4. Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.

4. Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands. The commandment requires that you bring an offering.

5. For all these things [are to be done] because of the commandment.

5. When the offering of the righteous is burned on the altar, the fat drips down and a fragrant aroma rises to the Most High.

6. The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.

6. The sacrifice of the just man pleases God and will not be forgotten.

7. The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten.

7. Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not be stingy with the first fruits of your harvest.

8. Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.

8. Offer your gifts with a smiling face and when you pay your tithes do it gladly.

9. In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness.

9. Give to the Most High as he has given to you; give generously to the Lord according to what you have;

10. Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.

10. the Lord will repay, he will reward you sevenfold.

11. For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.

11. If you attempt to bribe him with gifts he will not accept them; do not rely on offerings from dishonest gain.

12. Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons.

12. The Lord is judge and shows no partiality.

13. He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed.

13. He will not disadvantage the poor, he who hears the prayer of the oppressed.

14. He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.

14. He does not disdain the plea of the orphan, nor the complaint of the widow.

15. Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?

15. When tears flow down her cheeks, is she not crying out against the one who caused her to weep?

16. He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds.

16. The one who serves God wholeheartedly will be heard; his petition will reach the clouds.

17. The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.

17. The prayer of the humble person pierces the clouds, and he is not consoled until he has been heard.

18. For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous;

18. His prayer will not cease until the Most High has looked down, until justice has been done in favor of the righteous.

19. Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.

19. And the Lord will not delay, nor will he be patient with the wicked,

20. Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

20. but he will crush the backbone of the merciless and have vengeance on the nations,

21.

21. until he has completely destroyed the hordes of the violent and broken the power of the wicked,

22.

22. until he has repaid each one according to his deeds,

23.

23. until he has judged his people and made them rejoice because of his mercy.

24.

24. Blessed is his mercy in the time of adversity! It is like rain clouds during a drought!