Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.
[26] Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.
[27] Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.
[28] For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.
[29] Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.
[30] For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.
[31] Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.
[32] My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.
[33] If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,
[34] Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.
[35] Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.
[36] And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.
[37] Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.

Sir.7

[1] Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.
[2] Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.
[3] My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
[4] Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.
[5] justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.
[6] Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.
[7] Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.
[8] Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.
[9] Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.
[10] Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.
[11] Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.
[12] Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.
[13] Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.
[14] Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.
[15] Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.
[16] Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.
[17] Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.
[18] Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.
[19] Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.
[20] Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.
[21] Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.
[22] Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.
[23] Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.
[24] Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.
[25] Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.
[26] Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.
[27] Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.
[28] Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?
[29] Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.
[30] Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.
[31] Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.
[32] And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.
[33] A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.
[34] Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.
[35] Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.
[36] Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.

Sir.8

[1] Strive not with a mighty man' lest thou fall into his hands.
[2] Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.
[3] Strive not with a