Liber Ecclesiasticus, 4

1. fili elemosynam pauperis ne fraudes et oculos tuos ne transvertas a paupere

1. Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.

2. animam esurientem ne despexeris et non exasperes pauperem in inopia sua

2. Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in his want.

3. cor inopis ne adflixeris et non protrahas datum angustianti

3. Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.

4. rogationem contribulati ne abicias et non avertas faciem tuam ab egeno

4. Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.

5. ab inope ne avertas oculos propter iram et non relinquas quærentibus tibi retro maledicere

5. Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.

6. maledicentis enim te in amaritudine exaudietur precatio illius exaudiet autem eum qui fecit illum

6. For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.

7. congregationi pauperum affabilem te facito et presbytero humilia animam tuam et magnato humilia caput tuum

7. Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.

8. declina pauperi aurem tuam et redde debitum tuum et responde pacifica in mansuetudine

8. Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.

9. libera eum qui iniuriam patitur de manu superbi et non acide feras in anima tua

9. Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.

10. in judicando esto pupillis misericors ut pater et pro viro matri illorum

10. In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.

11. et eris velut filius Altissimi obaudiens et miserebitur tui magis quam mater

11. And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.

12. sapientia filiis suis vitam inspiravit et suscipit exquirentes se et præibit in viam justitiæ

12. Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.

13. et qui illam diligit diligit vitam et qui vigilaverint ad illam conplectebuntur placorem ejus

13. And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.

14. qui tenuerint illam vitam hereditabunt et quo introibit benedicit Deus

14. They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.

15. qui serviunt ei obsequentes erunt Sancto et eos qui diligunt illam diligit Deus

15. They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.

16. qui audit illam judicat gentes et qui intuetur illam permanebit confidens

16. He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.

17. si crediderit ei hereditabit illam et erunt in confirmatione creaturæ illorum

17. If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.

18. quoniam in temptatione ambulat cum eo et in primis eligit eum

18. For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.

19. timorem et metum et adprobationem inducet super illum et cruciabit illum in tribulatione doctrinæ suæ donec temptet illum in cogitationibus illius et credat animæ illius

19. She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by her laws, and trust his soul.

20. et firmabit illum et iterum adducet directum ad illum

20. Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,

21. et denudat absconsa sua et thesaurizat super illum scientiam et intellectum justitiæ

21. And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.

22. si autem oberraverit derelinquet eum et tradet illum in manus inimici sui

22. But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.

23. fili conserva tempus et devita a malo

23. Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.

24. pro anima tua non confundaris dicere verum

24. For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.

25. est enim confusio adducens peccatum et est confusio adducens gloriam et gratiam

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

26. ne accipias faciem adversus faciem tuam nec adversus animam tuam mendacium

26. Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.

27. non reverearis proximum tuum in casum suum

27. Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:

28. nec retineas verbum in tempus salutis non abscondas sapientiam tuam in decore ejus

28. And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.

29. in lingua enim agnoscitur sapientia et sensus et scientia et doctrina in verbis veritatis et firmamentum in operibus justitiæ

29. For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.

30. non contradicas veritati ullo modo et de mendacio ineruditionis tuæ confundere

30. In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.

31. non confundaris confiteri peccata tua et ne subicias te homini pro peccato

31. Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.

32. noli resistere contra faciem potentis nec coneris contra ictum fluvii

32. Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive against the stream of the river.

33. pro justitia agoniare pro anima tua et usque ad mortem certa pro justitia et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos

33. Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.

34. noli citatus esse in lingua tua et inutilis et remissus in operibus tuis

34. Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.

35. noli esse sicut leo in domo tua evertens domesticos tuos et opprimens subiectos tibi

35. Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, and oppressing them that are under thee.

36. non sit porrecta manus tua ad accipiendum et ad reddendum collecta

36. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldst give.