Sefarim
Ben Sira2
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 2
My son, if thou come to serve the master, prepare thy nephesh for temptation.
Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
Ye that fear the master, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
Ye that fear the master, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
Ye that fear the master, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the master, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
For the master is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!
Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.
Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the master shall visit you?
They that fear the master will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.
They that fear the master will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the torah.
They that fear the master will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,
Saying, We will fall into the hands of the master, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.
Sefarim
Ben Sira3
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 3
Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe.
For the master hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.
Whoso honoureth his father maketh an kapparah for his sins:
And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.
Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.
He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the master shall be a comfort to his mother.
He that feareth the master will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.
Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them.
For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.
Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father’s dishonour is no glory unto thee.
For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.
My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.
And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.
For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.
In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.
He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed: of Elohim.
My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved.
The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the master.
Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed unto the meek.
For the power of the master is great, and he is honoured of the lowly.
Seek not out things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.
But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence, for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret.
Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand.
For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.
Without eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge therefore that thou hast not.
A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.
An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.
In the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the plant of wickedness hath taken root in him.
The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and an attentive ear is the desire of a wise man.
Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an kapparah for sins.
And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which may come hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.
Sefarim
Ben Sira4
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 4
My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.
Make not an hungry nephesh sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.
Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.
Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.
Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:
For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his nephesh, his prayer shall be heard of him that made him.
Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.
Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.
Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment.
Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.
Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek her.
He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.
He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the master will bless.
They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that love her the master doth love.
Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.
If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his generation shall hold her in possession.
For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his nephesh, and try him by her laws.
Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.
But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.
Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy nephesh.
For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.
Accept no person against thy nephesh, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.
And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.
For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.
In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.
Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.
Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.
Strive for the truth unto death, and the master shall fight for thee.
Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.
Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.