Chapter 2

¹ My son, if thou come to serve the Lord God,

Sir 2:1

² Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure,

Sir 2:2

³ Cleave unto him, and depart not away,

Sir 2:3

⁴ Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully,

Sir 2:4

⁵ For gold is tried in the fire,

Sir 2:5

⁶ Believe in him, and he will help thee;

Sir 2:6

⁷ Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;

Sir 2:7

⁸ Ye that fear the Lord, believe him;

Sir 2:8

⁹ Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good,

Sir 2:9

¹⁰ Look at the generations of old, and see;

Sir 2:10

¹¹ For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy,

Sir 2:11

¹² Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands,

Sir 2:12

¹³ Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not;

Sir 2:13

¹⁴ Woe unto you that have lost patience!

Sir 2:14

¹⁵ They that fear the Lord will not disobey his word;

Sir 2:15

¹⁶ They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well-pleasing unto him;

Sir 2:16

¹⁷ They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts,

Sir 2:17

¹⁸ [Saying], We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men:

Sir 2:18