Sirach 14

¹ It schal brynge in on hym drede, and feer, and preuyng, and it schal turmente hym in the tribulacioun of his doctryn, til it tempte hym in hise thouytis, and bileue to his soule. ² And it schal make hym stidefast, and schal brynge riyt weie to hym, and it schal make hym glad; ³ and schal make nakid hise priuytees to hym, and schal tresore on hym kunnyng, and vndurstondyng of riytfulnesse. ⁴ Forsothe if he errith, God schal forsake hym, and schal bitake hym in to the hondis of his enemy. ⁵ Sone, kepe thou tyme, and eschewe thou fro yuel. ⁶ Be thou not aschamed for thi lijf to seie treuthe; for whi ther is schame that bryngith synne, ⁷ and ther is schame that bryngith glorie and grace. ⁸ Take thou not a face ayens thi face, nethir a leesyng ayens thi soule. ⁹ Schame thou not thi neiybore in his fal, ¹⁰ nether withholde thou a word in the tyme of helthe. Hide not thi wisdom in the fairnesse therof; ¹¹ for whi wisdom is knowun in tunge, and wit, and kunnyng, and techyng in the word of a wijs man; and stidfastnesse is in the werkis of riytfulnesse. ¹² Ayenseie thou not the word of treuthe in ony maner; and be thou aschamed of the leesyng of thi mislernyng. ¹³ Be thou not aschamed to knouleche thi synnes; and make thee not suget to ech man for synne. ¹⁴ Nyle thou stonde ayens the face of the myyti, nethir enforse thou ayens the strok of the flood. ¹⁵ For riytfulnesse fiyte thou for thi soule, and til to the deth stryue thou for riytfulnesse; and God schal ouercome thin enemyes for thee. ¹⁶ Nyle thou be swift in thi tunge, and vnprofitable and slak in thi werkis. ¹⁷ Nyle thou be as a lioun in thin hous, turnynge vpsedoun thi meneals, and oppressynge hem that ben sugetis to thee. ¹⁸ Thin hond be not redi to take, and closid togidere to yyue. ²⁰ Nile thou take heed to wickid possessiouns, and seie thou not, Sufficient lijf is to me; for it schal no thing profite in the tyme of veniaunce, and of failynge, ether deth. ²¹ Sue thou not the coueitise of thin herte in thi strengthe, ²² and seie thou not, As Y myyte, ether who schal make me suget for my dedis? For whi God vengynge schal venge. ²³ Seie thou not, Y haue synned, and what sorewful thing bifelle to me? For the hiyeste is a pacient yeldere. ²⁴ Of the foryyuenesse of synnes, nyle thou be without drede, nether heepe thou synne on synne. ²⁵ And seie thou not, The merciful doyng of God is greet; he schal haue merci on the multitude of my synnes. ²⁶ For whi merci and ire neiyeth soone fro hym, and his ire biholdith on synneris. ²⁷ Tarie thou not to be conuertid to the Lord, and dilaie thou not fro dai in to dai.