Sirach - Chapter 7

Passage

Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of you. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from you. My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and you shall not reap them sevenfold. Seek not of the Lord a preeminence, nor of the king the seat of honor. Justify not yourself before God, for he knows the heart: and desire not to appear wise before the king. Seek not to be made a judge, unless you have strength enough to extirpate iniquities: lest fear the person of the powerful, and lay a stumblingblock for your integrity. Offend not against the multitude of a city, neither cast yourself in upon the people, Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one you shall not be unpunished. Be not fainthearted in your mind: Neglect not to pray, and to give alms. Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my gifts, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept my offerings. Laugh no one to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one that humbles and exalts, God who sees all. Devise not a lie against your brother: neither do the like against your friend. Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good. Be not full of words in a multitude of ancients, and repeat not the word in your prayer. Hate not laborious works, nor husbandry ordained by the most High. Number not yourself among the multitude of the disorderly. Remember wrath, for it will not tarry long. Humble your spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of the ungodly is fire and worms. Do not transgress against your friend deferring money, nor despise your dear brother for the sake of gold. Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom you have gotten in the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her modesty is above gold. Hurt not the servant that works faithfully, nor the hired man that gives you his life. Let a wise servant be dear to you as your own soul, defraud him not of liberty, nor leave him needy. Have you cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for your profit, keep them with you. Have you children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their childhood. Have you daughters? have a care of their body, and show not your countenance gay towards them. Marry your daughter well, and you shall do a great work, and give her to a wise man. If you have a wife according to your soul, cast her not off: and to her that is hateful, trust not yourself. With your whole heart, Honor your father, and forget not the groanings of your mother: Remember that you had not been born but through them: and make a return to them as they have done for you. With all your soul fear the Lord, and reverence his priests. With all your strength love him that made you: and forsake not his ministers. Honor God with all your soul and give honor to the priests, and purify yourself with your arms. Give them their portion, as it is commanded you, of the firstfruits and of purifications: and for your negligences purify yourself with a few. Offer to the Lord the gift of your shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things: And stretch out your hand to the poor, that your expiation and your blessing may be perfected. A gift has grace in the sight of all the living, and restrain not grace from the dead. Be not wanting in comforting them that weep, and walk with them that mourn. Be not slow to visit the sick: for by these things you shall be confirmed in love. In all your works remember your last end, and you shall never sin.