Sirach 7

¹Do no evil, so no evil will overtake you.

²Depart from wrong, and it will turn away from you.

³My son, don’t sow upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and you won’t reap them sevenfold.

⁴Don’t seek preeminence from the Lord, nor the seat of honor from the king.

⁵Don’t justify yourself in the presence of the Lord, and don’t display your wisdom before the king.

⁶Don’t seek to be a judge, lest you not be able to take away iniquities, lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness.

⁷Don’t sin against the multitude of the city. Don’t disgrace yourself in the crowd.

⁸Don’t commit a sin twice, for even in one you will not be unpunished.

⁹Don’t say, “He will look upon the multitude of my gifts. When I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”

¹⁰Don’t be faint-hearted in your prayer. Don’t neglect to give alms.

¹¹Don’t laugh a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul, for there is one who humbles and exalts.

¹²Don’t devise a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend.

¹³Refuse to utter a lie, for that habit results in no good.†⇄ (9 connections)

¹⁴Don’t babble in the assembly of elders. Don’t repeat your words in your prayer.†⇄ (12 connections)

¹⁵Don’t hate hard labor or farm work, which the Most High has created.

¹⁶Don’t number yourself among the multitude of sinners. Remember that wrath will not wait.

¹⁷Humble your soul greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.†⇄ (21 connections)

¹⁸Don’t exchange a friend for something, neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir.

¹⁹Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold.

²⁰Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life.

²¹Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of liberty.

²²Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you.

²³Do you have children? Correct them, and make them obedient from their youth.† (1 connection)

²⁴Do you have daughters? Take care of their bodies, and don’t be overly indulgent toward them.† (1 connection)

²⁵Give your daughter in marriage, and you will have accomplished a great matter. Give her to a man of understanding.

²⁶Do you have a wife who pleases you? Don’t cast her out. But don’t trust yourself to one who is hateful.

²⁷Honor your father with your whole heart, and don’t forget the birth pangs of your mother.¶ (1 connection)

²⁸Remember that you were born of them. What will you repay them for the things that they have done for you?¶ (1 connection)

²⁹Fear the Lord with all your soul; and revere his priests.†⇄ (12 connections)

³⁰With all your strength love him who made you. Don’t forsake his ministers.

³¹Fear the Lord and honor the priest. Give him his portion, even as it is commanded you: the first fruits, the trespass offering, the gift of the shoulders, the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of holy things.†⇄ (13 connections)

³²Also stretch out your hand to the poor man, that your blessing may be complete.

³³A gift has grace in the sight of every living man. Don’t withhold grace for a dead man.

³⁴Don’t avoid those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn.

³⁵Don’t be slow to visit a sick man, for by such things you will gain love.

³⁶In all your words, remember eternity, and you will never sin.† (1 connection)