⁴Do not seek from the Lord the highest office,
nor the seat of honour from the king.
⁵Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord,
nor display your wisdom before the king.
⁶Do not seek to become a judge,
lest you be unable to remove iniquity,
lest you be partial to a powerful man,
and thus put a blot on your integrity.
⁷Do not offend against the public,
and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

⁸Do not commit a sin twice;
even for one you will not go unpunished.
⁹Do not say, "He will consider the multitude of my gifts,
and when I make an offering to the Most High God he will accept it."
¹⁰Do not be fainthearted in your prayer,
nor neglect to give alms.

¹¹Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in soul,
for there is One who abases and exalts.
¹²Do not devise a lie against your brother,
nor do the like to a friend.
¹³Refuse to utter any lie,
for the habit of lying serves no good.
¹⁴Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders,
nor repeat yourself in your prayer.

¹⁵Do not hate toilsome labour, or farm work,
which were created by the Most High.
¹⁶Do not count yourself among the crowd of sinners;
remember that wrath does not delay.
¹⁷Humble yourself greatly,
for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.

Relations with others.  Sir.7.18-36

¹⁸Do not exchange a friend for money,
or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.
¹⁹Do not deprive yourself of a wise and good wife,
for her charm is worth more than gold.
²⁰Do not abuse a servant who performs his work faithfully,
or a hired labourer who devotes himself to you.
²¹Let your soul love an intelligent servant;
do not withhold from him his freedom.

²²Do you have cattle? Look after them;
if they are profitable to you, keep them.
²³Do you have children? Discipline them,
and make them obedient from their youth.
²⁴Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,
and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.
²⁵Give a daughter in marriage; you will have finished a great task.
But give her to a man of understanding.

²⁶If you have a wife who pleases you, do not cast her out;
but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.
²⁷With all your heart honour your father,
and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.
²⁸Remember that through your parents you were born;
and what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?

²⁹With all your soul fear the Lord,
and honour his priests.
³⁰With all your might love your Maker,
and do not forsake his ministers.
³¹Fear the Lord and honour the priest,
and give him his portion, as is commanded you:
the first fruits, the guilt offering,
the gift of the shoulders,
the sacrifice of sanctification,
and the first fruits of the holy things.

³²Stretch forth your hand to the poor,
so that your blessing may be complete.
³³Give graciously to all the living,
and withhold not kindness from the dead.
³⁴Do not fail those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.
³⁵Do not shrink from visiting a sick man,
because for such deeds you will be loved.
³⁶In all you do, remember the end of your life,
and then you will never sin.