Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 35

¹He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering. ²He that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise. ³To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation. ⁴Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord. ⁵For all these things are to be done because of the commandment. ⁶The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High. ⁷The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten. ⁸Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.

⁹In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness. ¹⁰Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye. ¹¹For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much. ¹²Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons. ¹³He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed. ¹⁴He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint. ¹⁵Do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall? ¹⁶He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds.

¹⁷The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment. ¹⁸For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous; ¹⁹Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy. ²⁰Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.