Sirach 7 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Miscellaneous Advice

7 Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.^(A)
2 Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.
³ Do^[a] not sow in the furrows of injustice,
and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.^(B)

⁴ Do not seek from the Lord high office
or the seat of honor from the king.
⁵ Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord
or display your wisdom before the king.^(C)
6 Do not seek to become a judge,
or you may be unable to root out injustice;
perhaps you will fear the powerful
and so mar your integrity.^(D)
7 Commit no offense against the public,
and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

⁸ Do not commit a sin twice;
even for one you will not go unpunished.^(E)
9 Do not say, “He will consider the great number of my gifts,
and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”
¹⁰ Do not grow weary when you pray;
do not neglect to give alms.^(F)
11 Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,
for there is one who humbles and exalts.^(G)
12 Do not devise^[b] a lie against your brother
or do the same to a friend.
¹³ Refuse to utter any lie,
for it is a habit that results in no good.
¹⁴ Do not babble in the company of the elders,
and do not repeat yourself when you pray.^(H)

¹⁵ Do not hate hard labor
or farm work, which was created by the Most High.^(I)
16 Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners;
remember that retribution will not delay.
¹⁷ Humble yourself to the utmost,
for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.^[c](J)

Relations with Others

¹⁸ Do not exchange a friend for money
or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.^(K)
19 Do not dismiss^[d] a wise and good wife,
for her charm is worth more than gold.^(L)
20 Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully
or hired laborers who give of themselves.^(M)
21 Let your soul love intelligent slaves;^[e]
do not withhold from them their freedom.^(N)

²² Do you have cattle? Look after them;
if they are profitable to you, keep them.
²³ Do you have children? Discipline them,
and make them obedient^[f] from their youth.^(O)
24 Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,^[g]
and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.^[h](P)
25 Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task,
but give her to a sensible man.
²⁶ Do you have a wife who pleases you?^[i] Do not divorce her,
but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.

²⁷ With all your heart honor your father,
and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.^(Q)
28 Remember that it was of your parents^[j] you were born;
how will you repay what they have given to you?

²⁹ With all your soul fear the Lord
and revere his priests.
³⁰ With all your might love your Maker,
and do not neglect his ministers.^(R)
31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest,
and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:
the first fruits, the purification offering, the gift of the shoulders,
the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.^(S)

³² Stretch out your hand to the poor,
so that your blessing may be complete.
³³ Give graciously to all the living;
do not withhold kindness even from the dead.^(T)
34 Do not lag behind those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.^(U)
35 Do not hesitate to visit the sick,
because for such deeds you will be loved.^(V)
36 In all you do, remember the end of your life,
and then you will never sin.^(W)

Footnotes

1. 7.3Gk My child, do
2. 7.12Heb: Gk plow
3. 7.17Heb for the expectation of mortals is worms
4. 7.19Heb: Gk deprive yourself of
5. 7.21Heb Love a wise slave as yourself
6. 7.23Gk bend their necks
7. 7.24Gk body
8. 7.24Gk do not brighten your face toward them
9. 7.26Heb Syr lack who pleases you
10. 7.28Gk them

Cross references

1. 7.1 : 1 Pet 3.13
2. 7.3 : Job 4.8; Ps 79.12; Sir 40.8
3. 7.5 : Job 9.2; Ps 143.2; Lk 18.11
4. 7.6 : Lev 19.15
5. 7.8 : Sir 3.27
6. 7.10 : Tob 4.7; Lk 18.1
7. 7.11 : 1 Sam 2.7; Prov 17.5
8. 7.14 : Eccl 5.2; Sir 32.9; Mt 6.7
9. 7.15 : Gen 3.19, 23
10. 7.17 : Isa 66.24; Jdt 16.17; Sir 18.21; Mk 9.48
11. 7.18 : 1 Kings 9.28; 1 Chr 29.4; Sir 27.1
12. 7.19 : Prov 12.4; 31.10; Sir 26.1–3
13. 7.20 : Sir 33.31; 34.27
14. 7.21 : Ex 21.2; Deut 15.12; Jer 34.8–16
15. 7.23 : Prov 29.15, 17; Sir 30.12, 13
16. 7.24 : Sir 42.9–11
17. 7.27 : Ex 20.12; Tob 4.3, 4; Sir 3.2, 8
18. 7.30 : Deut 6.5; 12.19; Mt 22.37; Lk 10.27
19. 7.31 : Lev 2.3, 10; 6.16; 7.1–7, 34; Prov 3.9
20. 7.33 : Tob 4.17
21. 7.34 : Sir 37.12; Rom 12.15
22. 7.35 : Mt 25.36, 39, 43
23. 7.36 : Deut 32.29; Sir 28.6; 38.20, 21