Sirach 35

Common English Bible

35 Whoever keeps the Law
gives many offerings;
²     whoever obeys the commandments
    makes a sacrifice of well-being.
³ Whoever repays a kindness
offers the finest flour,
⁴     and whoever does an act of charity
    makes a sacrifice of praise.
⁵ Staying away from wickedness
pleases the Lord,
    and keeping away from injustice
    means reconciliation.
⁶ Don’t come into the Lord’s presence
empty-handed,
⁷     since fulfilling the commandments
    means making offerings.
⁸ The righteous person’s offering
enriches the altar,
    and its pleasing odor comes
    before the Most High.
⁹ A righteous person’s offering
is acceptable,
    and its memory will last forever.
¹⁰ Honor the Lord generously,
    and don’t skimp
    on the early produce you present.^[a]
11 Every time you give, have a cheerful face,
    and dedicate your tithe gladly.
¹² Give to the Most High as he has given,
    and give with generosity
    from what you have,
¹³     because the Lord is the one who repays,
    and he will repay you seven times over.

¹⁴ Don’t offer a bribe,
because the Lord won’t accept it.
¹⁵     Don’t present an unrighteous sacrifice,
    because the Lord is a judge,
    and he shows no partiality.
¹⁶ God will not be partial to the poor,
    but he will listen to the complaint
    of those who are wronged.
¹⁷ God will never ignore an orphan’s plea,
    nor that of a widow
    when she pours out a complaint.
¹⁸ Don’t a widow’s tears fall down
on her cheek,
¹⁹     and isn’t her plea against the one
    who caused her tears?
²⁰ Those who serve with goodwill
will be accepted,
    and their prayer will reach to the clouds.
²¹ The prayer of the humble passes
through the clouds,
    and it will never stop
    until it draws near to God.^[b]
It will never withdraw
until the Most High takes notice,
²²     gives justice for the righteous,
    and executes judgment.
Indeed, the Lord will never delay,
    nor will he be patient with them
    until he crushes the power^[c]
    of the unmerciful,
²³     until he exacts vengeance
    on the nations,
    until he removes the multitude
    of abusive people
    and shatters the authority
    of the unrighteous,
²⁴     until he repays individuals
    according to their deeds
    and the works of human beings
    according to their thoughts,
²⁵     until he decides the case of his people
        and makes them glad by his mercy.
²⁶ His mercy is timely in a period
of distress,
    like rain clouds in a dry season.