“The Lord is the one
Who repays.
He will repay you sevenfold.
Do not offer him a bribe!
He will not accept it.
Do not rely
On a dishonest sacrifice!
The Lord is the judge.
There is no partiality
With him.
He will not show partiality
To the poor.
He will listen to the prayer
Of one who is wronged.
He will not ignore
The supplication of the orphan.
He will not ignore
The widow
When she pours out her complains.
Do not the tears of the widow
Run down her cheek?
She cries out against those
Who have caused her to fall.
The one whose service
Is pleasing to the Lord
Will be accepted.
His prayer will reach
To the clouds.
The prayer of the humble
Pierces the clouds.
It will not rest
Until it reaches its goal.
It will not desist
Until the Most High responds.
He does justice
For the righteous.
He executes judgment.”
Sirach reminds us that the Lord repays us justly. No bribe or dishonest sacrifice will change his mind. The Lord is a judge without partiality. He listens to the prayer of those who have been wronged. He does not ignore orphans and especially crying widows who are complaining. He does accept the pleasing service of those whose prayers will go up to heaven. The prayers of the humble will pierce the clouds. They will not rest until they reach the Most High God who will respond with a righteous just judgment.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 