Chapter Thirty-Five

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. Sirach 35:2. One who gives thanks brings an offering of fine flour; one who gives alms brings a sacrifice of praise. Sirach 35:3. 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. Sirach 35:5. The offering of the righteous makes the altar rich, and its fragrance goes up before the Most High; Sirach 35:6. the sacrifice of a righteous person is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten. Sirach 35:7. With a cheerful eye glorify the Lord and do not diminish the first fruits of your labor; Sirach 35:8. with every gift have a cheerful face and consecrate your tithe in gladness. Sirach 35:9. Give to the Most High according to His gift, and with a cheerful eye according to the wealth your hand has acquired, Sirach 35:10. 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, Sirach 35:12. for the Lord is a judge, and there is no partiality with Him: Sirach 35:13. He does not show partiality to the poor and listens to the prayer of one who is wronged; Sirach 35:14. He does not despise the supplication of an orphan, nor a widow when she pours out her complaint. Sirach 35:15. 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? Sirach 35:16. One who serves God will be accepted with favor, and his prayer will reach the clouds. Sirach 35:17. The prayer of the humble will pierce the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it draws near to God, Sirach 35:18. and will not cease until the Most High looks down and judges righteously and pronounces judgment. Sirach 35:19. And the Lord will not delay and will not be patient until He crushes the loins of the unmerciful; Sirach 35:20. He will repay vengeance to the nations until He destroys the multitude of oppressors and breaks the scepters of the unjust, Sirach 35:21. until He repays each person according to their deeds, and the deeds of people according to their intentions, Sirach 35:22. until He executes judgment over His people and rejoices them with His mercy. Sirach 35:23. 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.