Sirach 2
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1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
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2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
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3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
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4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
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5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
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6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
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7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
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8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
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9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
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10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did 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?
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11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
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12 Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!
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13 Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.
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14 Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
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15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.
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16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
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17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,
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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.