Sirach 35

Geneva(i) 1 Who so keepeth the Lawe, bringeth offerings ynough: he that holdeth fast the commandements, offereth an offring of saluation. 2 He that is thankefull to them that haue well deserued, offereth fine flowre: and hee that giueth almes, sacrificeth praise. 3 To depart from euill is a thankefull thing to the Lord, and to forsake vnrighteousnes, is a reconciling vnto him. 4 Thou shalt not appeare emptie before the Lorde. 5 For all these thinges are done because of the commaundement. 6 The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the smell thereof is sweete before the most High. 7 The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable, and ye remembrance thereof shal neuer be forgotten. 8 Giue the Lorde his honour with a good and liberal eye, and diminish not the first fruites of thine handes. 9 In all thy gifts shew a ioyfull countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladnesse. 10 Giue vnto the most High according as hee hath enriched thee, and looke what thine hande is able, giue with a chearefull eye. 11 For the Lorde recompenseth, and will giue thee seuen times as much. 12 Diminish nothing of thine offering: for he will not receiue it, and absteine from wrongfull sacrifices: for the Lord is the iudge, and regardeth no mans person. 13 Hee accepteth not the person of the poore, but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed. 14 He despiseth not the desire of the fatherlesse, nor the widowe, when she powreth out her prayer. 15 Doeth not the teares runne downe the widowes cheekes? and her crie is against him that caused them: for from her cheekes do they goe vp vnto heauen, and the Lord which heareth them, doeth accept them. 16 He that serueth ye Lord, shalbe accepted with fauour, and his prayer shall reach vnto the cloudes. 17 The prayer of him that humbleth himselfe, goeth thorowe the cloudes, and ceaseth not till it come neere, and will not depart till the most High haue respect thereunto to iudge righteously, and to execute iudgement. 18 And the Lord will not be slacke, nor the Almightie will tarie long from them, till he hath smitten in sunder the loynes of the vnmercifull, and auenged himselfe of the heathen, till hee haue taken away the multitude of the cruell, and broken the scepter of the vnrighteous, till hee giue euery man after his workes, and rewarde them after their deuises, till hee haue iudged the cause of his people, and comforted them with his mercie. 19 Oh, how faire a thing is mercie in the time of anguish and trouble! It is like a cloude of raine, that commeth in the time of a drought.