Sirach 2 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

Be Faithful When Tested

¹ Students, if you decide to worship and obey the Lord, be ready to face problems.

² Have firm self-control and don't act too quickly if trouble strikes.

³ Don't turn from the Lord, but be faithful; that's the way to succeed.

⁴ Accept everything that happens. Be patient if others humiliate you—

⁵ humiliation tests people as a furnace tests gold.

⁶ The Lord will give his help, if you depend only on him and do right.

⁷ If you fear the Lord and are patient, he will show you mercy. But if you turn away, you will fall.

⁸ Put your trust in him, and he will reward you.

⁹ Don't give up hoping for good things, like mercy and a life full of joy.

¹⁰ Look at past generations— did the Lord desert those people who trusted and feared him? Or did he fail to answer those who asked him for help?

¹¹ The Lord is kind and shows mercy by forgiving our sins and rescuing us from trouble.

¹² But the Lord will send trouble if you don't have the courage to be faithful and to stay away from sin.

¹³ If you are too afraid to put your trust in him, he will not protect you when problems come.

¹⁴ And if you give up, you will be in for trouble when the Lord decides to judge your life. *

¹⁵ If you love the Lord and respect him, you will obey his commands.

¹⁶ You will try to please him and to be completely faithful to his Law.

¹⁷ If you fear the Lord, you will prepare yourself to worship him with humility.

¹⁸ We pray, Lord, that you will decide our future. You are as merciful as you are majestic, so don't leave our fate in human hands.