1Keeping the Law is worth many offerings. Being faithful to the commandments is like a peace offering.
2Returning kindness is an offering of fine flour; giving alms is a sacrifice of praise.
3Renouncing sin pleases the Lord, and shunning injustice is a sacrifice of atonement.
4Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands. The commandment requires that you bring an offering.
5When the offering of the righteous is burned on the altar, the fat drips down and a fragrant aroma rises to the Most High.
6The sacrifice of the just man pleases God and will not be forgotten. 7Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not be stingy with the first fruits of your harvest.
8Offer your gifts with a smiling face and when you pay your tithes do it gladly.
The Lord will not delay
9 ① Give to the Most High as he has given to you; give generously to the Lord according to what you have; 10the Lord will repay, he will reward you seven fold.
11If you attempt to bribe him with gifts he will not accept them; do not rely on offerings from dishonest gain.
12The Lord is judge and shows no partiality. 13He will not disadvantage the poor, he who hears the prayer of the oppressed. 14He does not disdain the plea of the orphan, nor the complaint of the widow.
15When tears flow down her cheeks, is she not crying out against the one who caused her to weep?
16The one who serves God whole heartedly will be heard; his petition will reach the clouds. 17The prayer of the humble person pierces the clouds, and he is not consoled until he has been heard. 18His prayer will not cease until the Most High has looked down, until justice has been done in favor of the righteous.
19And the Lord will not delay, nor will he be patient with the wicked, 20but he will crush the backbone of the merciless and have vengeance on the nations, 21until he has completely destroyed the hordes of the violent and broken the power of the wicked, 22until he has repaid each one according to his deeds, 23until he has judged his people and made them rejoice because of his mercy.
24Blessed is his mercy in the time of adversity! It is like rain clouds during a drought!
- Sir 35,9 We must generously assist in the cost of worship as long as it is not a way of forgetting our responsibilities concerning injustice in our world. The Lord is pleased with our sacrifices but, above all, he hears the prayer of the orphan and sees the tears of the widow.
