Chapter 35

To please the Lord is to turn away from evil; to make atonement to Him is to avoid wrongdoing.

Sirach 35:1. One who keeps the law multiplies offerings; one who holds to the commandments brings a sacrifice of salvation. 2. One who gives thanks brings an offering of fine flour; one who gives alms brings a sacrifice of praise. 3. Pleasing the Lord is turning from evil, and making atonement to Him is turning from wrongdoing. 1–3. Cf. Ps 50:19; Isa 1. See the note to Sir 7:9. One who keeps the external precepts of the law regarding sacrifices multiplies with his offering the number of offerings; but one who at the same time fulfills in his life the spirit of the Lord’s commandments brings a sacrifice for his salvation. One who offers a thanksgiving sacrifice only as the law requires brings fine flour, that is, increases the amount of fine flour brought with the sacrifice; but one who at the same time does works of mercy brings to God a sacrifice of true praise (Matt 5:16).

Sirach 35:4. Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands, for all this is commanded. 5. The offering of the righteous makes the altar rich, and its fragrance goes up before the Most High; 6. the sacrifice of a righteous person is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten. 7. With a cheerful eye glorify the Lord and do not diminish the first fruits of your labor; 8. with every gift have a cheerful face and consecrate your tithe in gladness. 9. Give to the Most High according to His gift, and with a cheerful eye according to the wealth your hand has acquired, 10. for the Lord is the one who repays, and He will repay you sevenfold. 4–10. The necessity of inner worship does not mean that outer worship can be neglected. The law’s precepts concerning worship and sacrifice must be fulfilled without omission and in the joyful disposition of a willing heart.

Sirach 35:11. Do not diminish gifts, for He will not accept them; and do not hope in an unjust offering, 12. for the Lord is a judge, and there is no partiality with Him: 13. He does not show partiality to the poor and listens to the prayer of one who is wronged; 14. He does not despise the supplication of an orphan, nor a widow when she pours out her complaint. 15. Do not the tears of a widow flow down her cheeks, and does she not cry out against the one who drives her to weep? 16. One who serves God will be accepted with favor, and his prayer will reach the clouds. 17. The prayer of the humble will pierce the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it draws near to God, 18. and will not cease until the Most High looks down and judges righteously and pronounces judgment. 19. And the Lord will not delay and will not be patient until He crushes the loins of the unmerciful; 20. He will repay vengeance to the nations until He destroys the multitude of oppressors and breaks the scepters of the unjust, 21. until He repays each person according to their deeds, and the deeds of people according to their intentions, 22. until He executes judgment over His people and rejoices them with His mercy. 23. Mercy is timely in the time of affliction, like rain clouds in the time of drought. 11–23. The Lord is impartial and merciful: He will reject the offering of the wicked oppressor of neighbors, but He will hear the tears of the helpless and the wronged righteous and will not delay in executing His righteous judgment.