Sirach 7

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.1

¹⁴Don’t babble in the assembly of elders.

Don’t repeat your words in your prayer.1

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.1

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.1

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.1

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.