Sirach

¹Do no evil, so no evil will overtake you. ²Depart from wrong, and it will turn away from you. ³My son, don’t sow upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and you won’t reap them sevenfold. ⁴Don’t seek preeminence from the Lord, nor the seat of honor from the king. ⁵Don’t justify yourself in the presence of the Lord, and don’t display your wisdom before the king. ⁶Don’t seek to be a judge, lest you not be able to take away iniquities, lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness. ⁷Don’t sin against the multitude of the city. Don’t disgrace yourself in the crowd. ⁸Don’t commit a sin twice, for even in one you will not be unpunished. ⁹Don’t say, “He will look upon the multitude of my gifts. When I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.” ¹⁰Don’t be faint-hearted in your prayer. Don’t neglect to give alms. ¹¹Don’t laugh a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul, for there is one who humbles and exalts. ¹²Don’t devise a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend. ¹³Refuse to utter a lie, for that habit results in no good. ¹⁴Don’t babble in the assembly of elders. Don’t repeat your words in your prayer. ¹⁵Don’t hate hard labor or farm work, which the Most High has created. ¹⁶Don’t number yourself among the multitude of sinners. Remember that wrath will not wait. ¹⁷Humble your soul greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.

¹⁸Don’t exchange a friend for something, neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir. ¹⁹Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold. ²⁰Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. ²¹Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of liberty. ²²Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you. ²³Do you have children? Correct them, and make them obedient from their youth. ²⁴Do you have daughters? Take care of their bodies, and don’t be overly indulgent toward them. ²⁵Give your daughter in marriage, and you will have accomplished a great matter. Give her to a man of understanding. ²⁶Do you have a wife who pleases you? Don’t cast her out. But don’t trust yourself to one who is hateful. ²⁷Honor your father with your whole heart, and don’t forget the birth pangs of your mother. ²⁸Remember that you were born of them. What will you repay them for the things that they have done for you? ²⁹Fear the Lord with all your soul; and revere his priests. ³⁰With all your strength love him who made you. Don’t forsake his ministers. ³¹Fear the Lord and honor the priest. Give him his portion, even as it is commanded you: the first fruits, the trespass offering, the gift of the shoulders, the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of holy things. ³²Also stretch out your hand to the poor man, that your blessing may be complete. ³³A gift has grace in the sight of every living man. Don’t withhold grace for a dead man. ³⁴Don’t avoid those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn. ³⁵Don’t be slow to visit a sick man, for by such things you will gain love. ³⁶In all your words, remember eternity, and you will never sin.