Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) Chapter 2

1 My son, if you come to serve 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄,
Prepare your being for trial.

2 Prepare your heart, and constantly endure,
And do not hasten in time of trouble.

3 Cling to Him, and do not depart,
That you may be increased at your latter end.

4 Whatsoever is brought upon you, accept cheerfully,
And be patient when you are brought low.

5 For gold is tried in the fire,
And acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.

6 Believe in Him, and He shall help you;
Establish your way, and trust in Him.

7 You who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, wait for His kindness;
And do not turn aside, lest you fall.

8 You who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, believe Him;
And your reward shall not fail.

9 You who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, have expectancy for good,
And for everlasting joy and kindness.

10 Look at the generations of old and see;
Did any ever trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, and were put to shame?
Or did any remain in His reverence, and were forsaken?
Or whom did He ever despise, that called upon Him?

11 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is full of compassion and kindness,
Patient, and very tender-hearted, and forgives sins,
And saves in time of affliction.

12 Woe unto fearful hearts, and faint hands,
And the sinner that goes two ways!

13 Woe unto he who is fainthearted!
For he is unbelieving;
Therefore he shall not be defended.

14 Woe unto you that have lost patience!
And what shall you do when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall punish you?

15 Those who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall not disobey His Word;
And those who love Him guard His Ways.

16 Those who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 seek that which is well-pleasing to Him;
And those who love Him shall be filled with the Torah.

17 Those who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 prepare their hearts,
And humble their beings in His sight,

18 Saying, “We shall fall into the hands of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, and not into the hands of men;
For as His excellence is, so is His kindness.”