Sirach
2:1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
2:2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time
of trouble.
2:3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at
thy last end.
2:4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when
thou art changed to a low estate.
2:5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of
adversity.
2:6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust
in him.
2:7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye
fall.
2:8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
2:9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
2:10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord,
and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or
whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
2:11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very
pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
2:12 Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two
ways!
2:13 Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall
he not be defended.
2:14 Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord
shall visit you?
2:15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love
him will keep his ways.
2:16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him;
and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
2:17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their
souls in his sight,
2:18 Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands
of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.
