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Sirach 4

1My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.
1My son, don’t deprive the poor of his living. Don’t make the needy eyes wait long.
2Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.
2Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful, or provoke a man in his distress.
3Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.
3Don’t add more trouble to a heart that is provoked. Don’t put off giving to him who is in need.
4Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.
4Don’t reject a suppliant in his affliction. Don’t turn your face away from a poor man.
5Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:
5Don’t turn your eye away from one who asks. Give no occasion to a man to curse you.
6For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.
6For if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul, he who made him will hear his supplication.
7Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.
7Endear yourself to the assembly. Bow your head to a great man.
8Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.
8Incline your ear to a poor man. Answer him with peaceful words in humility.
9Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment.
9Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of him who wrongs him; Don’t be hesitant in giving judgment.
10Be 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.
10Be as a father to the fatherless, and like a husband to their mother. So you will be as a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than your mother does.
11Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek her.
11Wisdom exalts her sons, and takes hold of those who seek her.
12He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.
12He who loves her loves life. Those who seek her early will be filled with gladness.
13He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.
13He who holds her fast will inherit glory. Where he enters, the Lord will bless.
14They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the Lord doth love.
14Those who serve her minister to the Holy One. The Lord loves those who love her.
15Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.
15He who listens to her will judge the nations. He who heeds her will dwell securely.
16If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.
16If he trusts her, he will inherit her, and his generations will possess her.
17For 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.
17For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways, and will bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgments.
18Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.
18Then she will return him again to the straight way, and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets.
19But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.
19If he goes astray, she will forsake him, and hand him over to his fall.
20Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul.
20Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul.
21For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.
21For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace.
22Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.
22Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling.
23And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.
23Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety. Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair.
24For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.
24For wisdom will be known by speech, and instruction by the word of the tongue.
25In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.
25Don’t speak against the truth and be shamed for your ignorance.
26Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.
26Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. Don’t fight the river’s current.
27Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.
27Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon. Don’t be partial to one who is mighty.
28Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.
28Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you.
29Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
29Don’t be hasty with your tongue, or slack and negligent in your deeds.
30Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.
30Don’t be like a lion in your house, or suspicious of your servants.
31Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.
31Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when you should repay.