The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Ecclesiaticus 04
1 My son, don’t deprive the poor of his
living. Don’t make the needy eyes wait long.
2 Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful,
or provoke a man in his distress.
3 Don’t add more trouble to a heart that is
provoked. Don’t put off giving to him
who is in need.
4 Don’t reject a suppliant in his affliction.
Don’t turn your face away from a poor man.
5 Don’t turn your eye away from one who
asks. Giveno occasionto amanto curse you.
6 For if he curses you in the bitterness of his
soul, he who made him will hear his supplication.
7 Endear yourself to the assembly.
Bow your head to a great man.
8 Incline your ear to a poor man.
Answer him with peaceful words in
humility.
9 Deliver him who is wronged from the
hand of him who wrongs him;
Don’t be hesitant in giving judgment.
10 Be 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.
11 Wisdom exalts her sons,
and takes hold of those who seek her.
12 He who loves her loves life.
Those who seek her early will be filled
with gladness.
13 He who holds her fast will inherit glory.
Where† he enters, the Lord will bless.
14 Those who serve her minister to
the Holy One. The Lord loves those who love her.
15 He who listens to her will judge the nations.
He who heeds her will dwell securely.
16 If he trusts her, he will inherit her,
and his generations will possess her.
17 For 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.
18 Then she will return him again to the
straight way, and will gladden him, and reveal to
him her secrets.
19 If he goes astray, she will forsake him,
and hand him over to his fall.
20 Watch for the opportunity, and beware
of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul.
21 For there is a shame that brings sin,
and there is a shame that is glory and
grace.
22 Don’t show partiality, discrediting your
soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling.
23 Don’t refrain from speaking when it is
for safety. ‡Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake
of seeming fair.
24 For wisdom will be known by speech,
and instruction by the word of the
tongue.
25 Don’t speak against the truth
and be shamed for your ignorance.
26 Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins.
Don’t fight the river’s current.
27 Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to
tread upon. Don’t be partial to one
who is mighty.
28 Strive for the truth to death,
and the Lord God will fight for you.
29 Don’t be hasty with your tongue,
or slack and negligent in your deeds.
30 Don’t be like a lion in your house,
or suspicious of your servants.
31 Don’t let your hand be stretched out to
receive, and closed when you should repay.