Ecclesiasticus, 36

1. Take pity on us, Master, Lord of the universe, look at us, spread fear of yourself throughout all other nations.

1. He who keeps the law makes many offerings; he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.

2. Raise your hand against the foreign nations and let them see your might.

2. He who returns a kindness offers fine flour, and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.

3. As, in their sight, you have proved yourself holy to us, so now, in our sight, prove yourself great to them.

3. To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement.

4. Let them acknowledge you, just as we have acknowledged that there is no God but you, Lord.

4. Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,

5. Send new portents, do fresh wonders, win glory for your hand and your right arm.

5. for all these things are to be done because of the commandment.

6. Rouse your fury, pour out your rage, destroy the opponent, annihilate the enemy.

6. The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar, and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.

7. Hasten the day, remember the oath, and let people tell of your mighty deeds.

7. The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten.

8. Let fiery wrath swallow up the survivor, and destruction overtake those who oppress your people.

8. Glorify the Lord generously, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.

9. Crush the heads of hostile rulers who say, 'There is no one else but us!'

9. With every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness.

10. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, restore them their heritage as at the beginning.

10. Give to the Most High as he has given, and as generously as your hand has found.

11. Take pity, Lord, on the people called by your name, on Israel whom you have made your first-born.

11. For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.

12. Have compassion on your holy city, on Jerusalem, the place where you rest.

12. Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality.

13. Fill Zion with your praises and your sanctuary with your glory.

13. He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man; and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

14. Vindicate those whom you created first, fulfil what has been prophesied in your name.

14. He will not ignore the supplication of the fatherless, nor the widow when she pours out her story.

15. Give those who wait for you their reward, let your prophets be proved true.

15. Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek as she cries out against him who has caused them to fall?

16. Grant, Lord, the prayer of your servants, in the terms of Aaron's blessing on your people,

16. He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds.

17. so that all the earth's inhabitants may acknowledge that you are the Lord, the everlasting God.

17. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him, and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment.

18. The stomach takes in all kinds of food, but some foods are better than others.

18. And the Lord will not delay, neither will he be patient with them, till he crushes the loins of the unmerciful and repays vengeance on the nations; till he takes away the multitude of the insolent, and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous;

19. As the palate discerns the flavour of game, so a shrewd listener detects lying words.

19. till he repays the man according to his deeds, and the works of men according to their devices; till he judges the case of his people and makes them rejoice in his mercy.

20. A perverse character causes depression in others; it needs experience to know how to repay such a one.

20. Mercy is as welcome when he afflicts them as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

21. A woman will accept any husband, but some daughters are better than others.

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22. A woman's beauty delights the beholder, a man likes nothing better.

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23. If her tongue is kind and gentle, her husband is the happiest of men.

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24. The man who takes a wife has the makings of a fortune, a helper to match himself, a pillar of support.

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25. When property has no fence, it is open to plunder, when a man has no wife, he is aimless and querulous.

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26. Will anyone trust an armed thief who flits from town to town?

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27. So it is with the man who has no nest, and lodges wherever night overtakes him.

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