Duties to God and Neighbor
Sirach 7
A collection of short precepts warns against doing evil, seeking honors above one's place, multiplying sins, and idle boasting, while urging almsgiving, humility, and honest dealing. It further instructs the reader to honor the Lord and his priests, care for parents, servants, and children, and show kindness to mourners and the sick.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Brenton 1851Septuagint
1
BrentonDo no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.
2
BrentonDepart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.
3
BrentonMy son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
4
BrentonSeek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.
5
BrentonJustify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.
6
BrentonSeek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, and lay a stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.
7
BrentonOffend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.
8
BrentonBind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.
9
BrentonSay not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.
10
BrentonBe not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.
11
BrentonLaugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.
12
BrentonDevise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.
13
BrentonUse not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.
14
BrentonUse not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.
15
BrentonHate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.
16
BrentonNumber not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.
17
BrentonHumble thy soul greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.
18
BrentonChange not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Suphir.
19
BrentonForego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.
20
BrentonWhereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil, nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.
21
BrentonLet thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.
22
BrentonHast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.
23
BrentonHast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.
24
BrentonHast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.
25
BrentonMarry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.
26
BrentonHast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not.
27
BrentonHonour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.
28
BrentonRemember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?
29
BrentonFear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.
30
BrentonLove him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.
31
BrentonFear the Lord, and honour the priest: and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee: the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.
32
BrentonAnd stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.
33
BrentonA gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.
34
BrentonFail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.
35
BrentonBe not slow to visit the sick: for that shall make thee to be beloved.
36
BrentonWhatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.