Sirach
Chapter 4
My son, do not refuse food to the poor, nor make the man who looks at you with pleading eyes wait.
Do not sadden the hungry or annoy anyone in need.
Do not irritate an angry person or withhold alms from a beggar.
Do not turn away the beggar weighed down by suffering, nor turn your face from the poor;
do not snub the needy or give anyone a reason to curse you.
If someone curses you out of bitterness, the Creator will hear his prayer.
Make yourself respected in the community; bow your head before authority.
Listen to the poor man and respond with kind words and peace.
Deliver the oppressed from their oppressor. Do not be weak when administering justice.
Be like a father to orphans and a husband to their mothers. Then you will be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than your own mother.
Wisdom Speaks
Wisdom raises her children and cares for those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life. Those who wake early in search of her will be filled with joy.
Whoever possesses her will enjoy glory, and blessings will follow him wherever he goes.
Those who serve her are ministers of the Holy One; those who love her are loved by the Lord.
He who listens to her will gain good judgment. He who obeys her will rest in safety.
Whoever trusts in her will possess her, and his children after him will inherit her.
For in the beginning, she will lead him along rough paths, making him fearful and terrified; she will discipline him until she can count on him, and she will put him to the test through her demands.
Then she will lead him on a smooth path, give him joy, and reveal her secrets to him.
But if he strays from the path, she will abandon him and let him be lost.
Shyness
In every situation, weigh the pros and cons and avoid evil. A misguided sense of shame could harm you.
There is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that deserves praise and respect.
Do not act against your better judgment to gain favor from others. Do not let this kind of shame cause you to sin.
Do not stay silent when it is necessary to speak. Do not, out of pride, hide your wisdom.
It is through speech that wisdom is recognized and learning is demonstrated.
Do not contradict the truth; instead, admit your lack of knowledge.
Have no shame in confessing your sins; avoid swimming against the tide.
Do not cringe before a fool; do not be influenced by the powerful.
Fight for the truth until death, and the Lord will fight for you.
Do not be daring in your speech, but be idle and slack in your deeds.
Do not be like a lion in your household, finding fault with your servants and oppressing those under you.
Do not open your hand to receive and keep it closed when you should give.
Commentaries
Almsgiving.
The act of giving alms was a crucial part of Jewish devotion; it served as a way to atone for sins. By the time of the New Testament, many Pharisees gave alms publicly, attracting attention to gain sympathy and admiration. Jesus corrects this mindset and tells his disciples to do so in a manner that “the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing” (Mt 6:3). Christians who are aware and dedicated to the Gospel should find ways to promote social practices that aim to eliminate poverty and, in turn, the root causes of injustice.
Wisdom Speaks.
Wisdom’s powerful message, which presents itself as the true path to human fulfillment, emphasizes the practical benefits for those who follow it: prudence, instruction, life, joy, and the Lord’s blessing. Those who earnestly seek it and apply its teachings will not be disappointed; it is available to everyone who searches for it, and, “disguised,” it will walk beside them. Those who gain it are not immune to trials and hardships, but these challenges offer opportunities for growth through perseverance. To ignore it is to punish oneself, for one is denied the advantages it provides.
Shyness.
This passage offers several practical lessons for life. Those seeking wisdom must acquire it and apply it daily: living authentically, having self-confidence without arrogance or pride; seeing oneself as the least before God and staying aware of one’s own smallness; recognizing faults with humility and courage; maintaining genuine personal integrity in relationships with others; and most importantly, understanding that the path to God is through the pursuit of justice. Finally, adopting an attitude of openness to both receiving and giving.