Ecclesiasticus 2

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

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

3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, ³that 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 ⁴For 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, ⁵and 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; ⁶did 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, ⁷and saveth in time of affliction.

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

13 Wo unto him that is faint-hearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.

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

15 ⁸They that fear the Lord will not disobey his word; and ⁹they that love him will keep his ways.

16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is wellpleasing 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.