1 My son, don’t deprive the poor of his living. Don’t make the needy eyes wait long. (WEB) 2 Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful, or provoke a man in his distress. (WEB) 3 Don’t add more trouble to a heart that is provoked. Don’t put off giving to him who is in need. (WEB) 4 Don’t reject a suppliant in his affliction. Don’t turn your face away from a poor man. (WEB) 5 Don’t turn your eye away from one who asks. Give no occasion to a man to curse you. (WEB) 6 For if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul, he who made him will hear his supplication. (WEB) 7 Endear yourself to the assembly. Bow your head to a great man. (WEB) 8 Incline your ear to a poor man. Answer him with peaceful words in humility. (WEB) 9 Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of him who wrongs him; Don’t be hesitant in giving judgment. (WEB) 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. (WEB) 11 Wisdom exalts her sons, and takes hold of those who seek her. (WEB) 12 He who loves her loves life. Those who seek her early will be filled with gladness. (WEB) 13 He who holds her fast will inherit glory. Where he enters, the Lord will bless. (WEB) 14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One. The Lord loves those who love her. (WEB) 15 He who listens to her will judge the nations. He who heeds her will dwell securely. (WEB) 16 If he trusts her, he will inherit her, and his generations will possess her. (WEB) 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. (WEB) 18 Then she will return him again to the straight way, and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets. (WEB) 19 If he goes astray, she will forsake him, and hand him over to his fall. (WEB) 20 Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul. (WEB) 21 For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace. (WEB) 22 Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling. (WEB) 23 Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety. Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair. (WEB) 24 For wisdom will be known by speech, and instruction by the word of the tongue. (WEB) 25 Don’t speak against the truth and be shamed for your ignorance. (WEB) 26 Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. Don’t fight the river’s current. (WEB) 27 Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon. Don’t be partial to one who is mighty. (WEB) 28 Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you. (WEB) 29 Don’t be hasty with your tongue, or slack and negligent in your deeds. (WEB) 30 Don’t be like a lion in your house, or suspicious of your servants. (WEB) 31 Don’t let… (WEB)
Sirach 4:1–31
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 3:26–28
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare. 27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. 28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
Sirach 7:20–22
20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. (WEB) 21 Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of liberty. (WEB) 22 Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you. (WEB)
Psalms 74:18–20
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name. 19 Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever. 20 Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of…
2 Enoch 51:2–4
2 Hide not your silver in the earth. (2EN) 3 Help the faithful man in affliction, and affliction will not find you in the time of your trouble. (2EN) 4 And every grievous and cruel yoke that come upon you bear all for the sake of the Lord, and thus you will find your reward in t… (2EN)
Sirach 9:1–3
1 Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. (WEB) 2 Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. (WEB) 3 Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. (WEB)
Proverbs 31:8–10
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy. 10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Sirach 1:28–30
28 Don’t disobey the fear of the Lord. Don’t come to him with a double heart. (WEB) 29 Don’t be a hypocrite in men’s sight. Keep watch over your lips. (WEB) 30 Don’t exalt yourself, lest you fall and bring dishonor upon your soul. The Lord will reveal your secrets and will cast you… (WEB)
Job 36:20–22
20 Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. 21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. 22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
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