Sirach 4 | OET

This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

4 My son, don’t deprive the poor of his living.

Don’t make the needy eyes wait long.

2 Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful,

or provoke a man in his distress.

3 Don’t add more trouble to a heart that’s provoked.

Don’t put off giving to him who’s in need.

4 Don’t reject a suppliant in his affliction.

Don’t turn your face away from a poor man.

5 Don’t turn your eye away from one who asks.

Give no occasion to a man to curse you.

6 Because if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul,

he who made him will hear his supplication.

7 Endear yourself to the assembly.

Bow your head to a great man.

8 Incline your ear to a poor man.

Answer him with peaceful words in humility.

9 Deliver him who’s wronged from the hand of him who wrongs him;

Don’t be hesitant in giving judgement.

10 Be as a father to the fatherless,

and like a husband to their mother.

So you’ll be as a son of the Most High,

and he’ll love you more than your mother does.

4 child, the/this/who life of_the ⟦πτωχοῦ⟧ not to_defraud, and not ⟦παρελκύσῃς⟧ eye ⟦ἐπιδεεῖς⟧.

2 soul ⟦πεινῶσαν⟧ not ⟦λυπήσῃς⟧, and not ⟦παροργίσῃς⟧ man in/on/among perplexity he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there.

3 heart ⟦παροργισμένην⟧ not ⟦προσταράξῃς⟧, and not ⟦παρελκύσῃς⟧ ⟦δόσιν⟧ ⟦προσδεομένου⟧.

4 ⟦Ἱκέτην⟧ ⟦θλιβόμενον⟧ not ⟦ἀπαναίνου⟧, and not ⟦ἀποστρέψῃς⟧ the/this/who face you away_from ⟦πτωχοῦ⟧.

5 away_from ⟦δεομένου⟧ not ⟦ἀποστρέψῃς⟧ eye, and not to_give place a_human ⟦καταράσασθαί⟧ you.

6 ⟦Καταρωμένου⟧ for you in/on/among bitterness soul he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, the/this/who petition he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there ⟦ἐπακούσεται⟧ the/this/who to_do/make he/she/it/self.

7 lovely synagogue yourself to_do/make, and ⟦μεγιστᾶνι⟧ ⟦ταπεινοῦ⟧ the/this/who head you.

8 ⟦Κλῖνον⟧ poor the/this/who ear you, and ⟦ἀποκρίθητι⟧ he/she/it/self ⟦εἰρηνικὰ⟧ in/on/among gentleness.

9 ⟦Ἐξελοῦ⟧ to_harm out_from hand ⟦ἀδικοῦντος⟧, and not ⟦ὀλιγοψυχήσῃς⟧ in/on/among the/this/who to_judge you.

10 to_be ⟦ὀρφανοῖς⟧ which/how father, and for man the/this/who mother he/she/it/self; and to_be which/how son highest, and to_love you more the/this/who mother you.

4:11 Wisdom guides those who seek her

11 Wisdom exalts her sons,

and takes hold of those who seek her.

12 He who loves her loves life.

Those who seek her early will be filled with gladness.

13 He who holds her fast will inherit glory.

Where[fn] he enters, the master will bless.

14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One.

The master loves those who love her.

15 He who listens to her will judge the nations.

He who heeds her will live securely.

16 If he trusts her, he’ll inherit her,

and his generations will possess her.

17 Because at the first she’ll walk with him in crooked ways,

and will bring fear and dread on him,

and torment him with her discipline,

until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgements.

18 Then she’ll return him again to the straight way,

and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets.

19 If he goes astray, she’ll forsake him,

and hand him over to his fall.

4:13 Or, she

4:20 Stand up for what’s right

20 Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil.

Don’t be ashamed of your soul.

21 Because there’s a shame that brings sin,

and there’s a shame that’s glory and grace.

22 Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul.

Don’t revere any man to your falling.

23 Don’t refrain from speaking when it’s for safety.

Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair.[fn]

24 Because wisdom will be known by speech,

and instruction by the word of the tongue.

25 Don’t speak against the truth

and be shamed for your ignorance.

26 Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins.

Don’t fight the river’s current.

27 Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread on.

Don’t be partial to one who’s mighty.

28 Strive for the truth to death,

and the master God will fight for you.

29 Don’t be hasty with your tongue,

or slack and negligent in your actions.

30 Don’t be like a lion in your house,

or suspicious of your servants.

31 Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive,

and closed when you should repay.

4:23 Some manuscripts omit this line.

20 ⟦Συντήρησον⟧ time/right_time and to_keep/guard away_from evil/bad, and about the/this/who soul you not ⟦αἰσχυνθῇς⟧.
21 he_is for shame ⟦ἐπάγουσα⟧ sin, and to_be shame glory and grace.
22 not ⟦λάβῃς⟧ face according_to the/this/who soul you, and not ⟦ἐντραπῇς⟧ toward fall you.
23 not to_prevent word in/on/among time/right_time salvation, 24 in/on/among for word to_know wisdom, and discipline in/on/among declaration tongue.
25 not ⟦ἀντίλεγε⟧ the/this/who truth, and about the/this/who ⟦ἀπαιδευσίας⟧ you ⟦ἐντράπηθι⟧.
26 not ⟦αἰσχυνθῇς⟧ ⟦ὁμολογῆσαι⟧ upon/to/against sin you, and not ⟦βιάζου⟧ ⟦ῥοῦν⟧ river.
27 and not ⟦ὑποστρώσῃς⟧ yourself a_human foolish, and not ⟦λάβῃς⟧ face ⟦δυνάστου⟧.
28 until of_the death ⟦ἀγώνισαι⟧ about the/this/who truth, and lord the/this/who God ⟦πολεμήσει⟧ above/for you.
29 not to_be rough in/on/among tongue you, and dull and ⟦παρειμένος⟧ in/on/among the/this/who work you.
30 not to_be which/how lion in/on/among the/this/who house you, and ⟦φαντασιοκοπῶν⟧ in/on/among the/this/who ⟦οἰκέταις⟧ you.
31 not to_be the/this/who hand you ⟦ἐκτεταμένη⟧ toward the/this/who to_take, and in/on/among the/this/who to_pay ⟦συνεσταλμένη⟧.

Open English Translation SIR Chapter 4

Readers’ Version

Literal Version Hide marks

Literal Version