The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Book of Ecclesiasticus
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Chapter 35
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1
Live true to the law, and thou hast richly endowed the altar.
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Let this be thy welcome-offering, to heed God’s word and keep clear of all wickedness;
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this thy sacrifice of amends for wrong done, of atonement for fault, to shun wrong-doing.
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Bloodless offering wouldst thou make, give thanks;✻ victim wouldst thou immolate, shew mercy.
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Wickedness and wrong-doing to shun is to win God’s favour, and pardon for thy faults.
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Yet do not appear in the Lord’s presence empty-handed;
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due observance must be paid, because God has commanded it.
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If thy heart is right, thy offering shall enrich the altar; its fragrance shall reach the presence of the most High;
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a just man’s sacrifice the Lord accepts, and will not pass over his claim to be remembered.
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Generously pay the Lord his due; do not grudge him the first-fruits of thy earnings;
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all thou givest, give with a smiling face, gladly bring in the tithe.
12
In his own measure God’s gift repay; grudge thou must not what afford thou canst;
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the Lord is a good master, and thou shalt have sevenfold in return.
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But think not to bribe his justice; he will have none of thy bribery.
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Never pin thy hopes on the power of wealth ill gotten; the Lord is a true judge, not swayed by partiality,
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and thou canst not win him to take thy part against the friendless, turn him deaf to the plea of the wronged.
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Prayer of the orphan, eloquent sigh of the widow, he will not disregard;
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see the tears on yonder widow’s cheeks, that accuse the author of her misery!
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From her cheeks they rise to heaven, where all prayers are heard, a grievous sight.
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None but his true worshippers he makes welcome; for their supplication the clouds give passage.
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Pierce those clouds if thou wouldst, thou must humble thyself, inconsolable till that prayer finds audience, unwearying till it wins redress.
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And will the Lord keep us waiting long? Hearing and redress he will grant to the innocent; strong as of old, patient no longer, he will crush the backs of our oppressors.
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The Gentiles punished, scattered the hordes of insolence, broken the sceptre of wrong!
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Men called to account everywhere for their deeds, the harvest of their mortal pride,
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and his own people vindicated at last, triumphing in his mercy at last!
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God’s mercy, welcome to the afflicted as rain-clouds are welcome in time of drought!
