8 Incline your ear to a poor man. Answer him with peaceful words in humility. (WEB)
Sirach 4:8
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 4:3–5
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… (WEB)
Sirach 29:7–9
7 Many on account of fraud have turned away. They are afraid of being defrauded for nothing. (WEB) 8 However be patient with a man in poor estate. Don’t keep him waiting for your alms. (WEB) 9 Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake. According to his need don’t send him empty… (WEB)
Sirach 5:10–12
10 Be steadfast in your understanding. Let your speech be consistent. (WEB) 11 Be swift to hear and answer with patience. (WEB) 12 If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth. (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.
Exodus 23:2–4
2 You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. 3 And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. 4 If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
2 Enoch 51:1–2
1 STRETCH out your hands to the poor according to your strength. (2EN) 2 Hide not your silver in the earth. (2EN)
Proverbs 22:21–23
21 to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you? 22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, 23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
Proverbs 18:22–24
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. 23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly. 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
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