Sirach 2

¹ My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.

² Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.

³ Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.

⁴ Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.

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

⁶ Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.

⁷ Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.

⁸ Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.

⁹ Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.

¹⁰ Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?

¹¹ For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.

¹² Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!

¹³ Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.

¹⁴ Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?

¹⁵ They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.

¹⁶ They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.

¹⁷ They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,

¹⁸ Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.