Ecclesiasticus 4

Ecclesiasticus

Chapter 4

4:1 Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.

4:2 Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in his want.

4:3 Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.

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

4:5 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.

4:6 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.

4:7 Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.

4:8 Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.

4:9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.

4:10 In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.

4:11 And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.

4:12 Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.

4:13 And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.

4:14 They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.

4:15 They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.

4:16 He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.

4:17 If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.

4:18 For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.

4:19 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.

4:20 Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,

4:21 And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.

4:22 But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.

4:23 Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.

4:24 For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.

4:25 For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that bringeth glory and grace.

4:26 Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.

4:27 Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:

4:28 And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.

4:29 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.

4:30 In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.

4:31 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.

4:32 Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive against the stream of the river.

4:33 Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.

4:34 Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.

4:35 Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, and oppressing them that are under thee.

4:36 Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldst give.

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Douay Rheims Version of the Catholic Bible