The Wisdom of Sirach
Chapter 4
¹ My child, do not cheat the poor of their living, and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 1)
Oh God my Father, I thank You for all the resources that You provide me with. Please help me to keep in mind that what You have given me is not for myself alone but even to help others who are in a greater need than myself Amen. I pray for the gift of generosity, and I thank You for my job for it is that of helping those who are really in need Amen.
² Do not grieve the hungry, or anger one in need.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 2)
Oh God, my Father this is a delicate area in my life. I am so weak that I am not always strong enough to give my lunch to others who have nothing and who are in a greater need than myself. However, I am sure that it was with Your help that there was a time when I did share part of my lunch. This was indeed a victory over my sinful nature Amen.
³ Do not add to the troubles of the desperate, or delay giving to the needy.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 3)
Oh God my Father many times I am compassionate and supportive however at other times simply giving is not the solution. At times people do not believe in themselves and empowering them helps them to experience the gifts that You have given them Amen.
⁴ Do not reject a suppliant in distress, or turn your face away from the poor.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 4)
Oh God my Father I pray for a soft generous and kind heart that never turns somebody away. I pray for resilience so that I can always be available for those in need Amen.
⁵ Do not avert your eye from the needy, and give no one reason to curse you; ⁶ for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you, their Creator will hear their prayer.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verses 5 to 6)
Oh God my Father it has come to my knowledge that there is a person who is speaking bad of me, however, I am working on this relationship in order to heal any issues that could have strained the relationship in the first place Amen.
⁷ Endear yourself to the congregation; bow your head low to the great.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 7)
For the millionth time oh God my Father, You are teaching me to be humble because by means of humility one can grow in relationship with others Amen.
⁸ Give a hearing to the poor, and return their greeting politely.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 8)
Oh God my Father I thank You for giving me the line of work that brings me face to face with the poorest of the poor and most vulnerable people. I pray for each and every one of them. They are like family to me Amen.
⁹ Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 9)
Oh God my Father, I thank You for giving me this role of advocating for the need of vulnerable people in order to see that justice is done Amen.
¹⁰ Be a father to orphans, and be like a husband to their mother; you will then be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than does your mother.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 10)
Oh God, my Father this is why I love the work that You have given me, for when working with such vulnerable people it is like being a friend through the role of a Social Worker. I thank You for helping me be both at the appropriate times Amen.
¹¹ Wisdom teaches her children and gives help to those who seek her.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 11)
Oh God my Father I pray for more and more of this gift so that I can continue to be of help and support to many others Amen.
¹² Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 12)
Oh God my Father, You are life, and whoever loves You also loves life, for all life finds its existence and meaning in You Amen.
¹³ Whoever holds her fast inherits glory, and the Lord blesses the place she enters.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 13)
Oh God my Father I pray for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and the gifts such as wisdom and holiness that You give us. I pray that You always dwell within me my God and Father for without You I cannot live Amen.
¹⁴ Those who serve her minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 14)
Oh God, my Father those who are in a relationship with You speak a different language than those who are of the world, for their focus is totally on You. I pray that I am also totally focused on You and that Your Wisdom is also alive in me Amen.
¹⁵ Those who obey her will judge the nations and all who listen to her will live secure.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 15)
Amen oh God my Father may my life be directed and governed by Your wisdom Amen.
¹⁶ If they remain faithful, they will inherit her; their descendants will also obtain her.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 16)
Oh God my Father as a human being I cannot promise that I remain faithful for I am prone to sin, however, I thank You for always being faithful to me and for always being close to me Amen.
¹⁷ For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths; she will bring fear and dread upon them, and will torment them by her discipline until she trusts them, and she will test them with her ordinances.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 17)
Oh God my Father throughout my journey with You we have passed from many tests both related to the area of work and in relation to my personal life, we have also faced tests in relation to a psychological level. Throughout every test You were with me and when I was lacking You gave me and are still giving me opportunities of a resit until I get the full marks from You my examiner Amen.
¹⁸ Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them, and will reveal her secrets to them.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 18)
After times of testing or examination, You will come back to us and refresh our souls and give us motivation and strength along with spiritual growth to move on in life Amen. Thanks, Jesus.
¹⁹ If they go astray she will forsake them, and hand them over to their ruin.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 19)
Oh God my Father loving You is far better than loving wisdom, for You never forsake me, but on the contrary, You are always ready to welcome me back into Your arms even though You know that I am weak and prone to sin Amen.
² Do not grieve the hungry, or anger one in need.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 2)
Oh God, my Father this is a delicate area in my life. I am so weak that I am not always strong enough to give my lunch to others who have nothing and who are in a greater need than myself. However, I am sure that it was with Your help that there was a time when I did share part of my lunch. This was indeed a victory over my sinful nature Amen.
³ Do not add to the troubles of the desperate, or delay giving to the needy.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 3)
Oh God my Father many times I am compassionate and supportive however at other times simply giving is not the solution. At times people do not believe in themselves and empowering them helps them to experience the gifts that You have given them Amen.
⁴ Do not reject a suppliant in distress, or turn your face away from the poor.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 4)
Oh God my Father I pray for a soft generous and kind heart that never turns somebody away. I pray for resilience so that I can always be available for those in need Amen.
⁵ Do not avert your eye from the needy, and give no one reason to curse you; ⁶ for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you, their Creator will hear their prayer.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verses 5 to 6)
Oh God my Father it has come to my knowledge that there is a person who is speaking bad of me, however, I am working on this relationship in order to heal any issues that could have strained the relationship in the first place Amen.
⁷ Endear yourself to the congregation; bow your head low to the great.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 7)
For the millionth time oh God my Father, You are teaching me to be humble because by means of humility one can grow in relationship with others Amen.
⁸ Give a hearing to the poor, and return their greeting politely.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 8)
Oh God my Father I thank You for giving me the line of work that brings me face to face with the poorest of the poor and most vulnerable people. I pray for each and every one of them. They are like family to me Amen.
⁹ Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 9)
Oh God my Father, I thank You for giving me this role of advocating for the need of vulnerable people in order to see that justice is done Amen.
¹⁰ Be a father to orphans, and be like a husband to their mother; you will then be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than does your mother.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 10)
Oh God, my Father this is why I love the work that You have given me, for when working with such vulnerable people it is like being a friend through the role of a Social Worker. I thank You for helping me be both at the appropriate times Amen.
¹¹ Wisdom teaches her children and gives help to those who seek her.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 11)
Oh God my Father I pray for more and more of this gift so that I can continue to be of help and support to many others Amen.
¹² Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 12)
Oh God my Father, You are life, and whoever loves You also loves life, for all life finds its existence and meaning in You Amen.
¹³ Whoever holds her fast inherits glory, and the Lord blesses the place she enters.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 13)
Oh God my Father I pray for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and the gifts such as wisdom and holiness that You give us. I pray that You always dwell within me my God and Father for without You I cannot live Amen.
¹⁴ Those who serve her minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 14)
Oh God, my Father those who are in a relationship with You speak a different language than those who are of the world, for their focus is totally on You. I pray that I am also totally focused on You and that Your Wisdom is also alive in me Amen.
¹⁵ Those who obey her will judge the nations and all who listen to her will live secure.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 15)
Amen oh God my Father may my life be directed and governed by Your wisdom Amen.
¹⁶ If they remain faithful, they will inherit her; their descendants will also obtain her.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 16)
Oh God my Father as a human being I cannot promise that I remain faithful for I am prone to sin, however, I thank You for always being faithful to me and for always being close to me Amen.
¹⁷ For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths; she will bring fear and dread upon them, and will torment them by her discipline until she trusts them, and she will test them with her ordinances.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 17)
Oh God my Father throughout my journey with You we have passed from many tests both related to the area of work and in relation to my personal life, we have also faced tests in relation to a psychological level. Throughout every test You were with me and when I was lacking You gave me and are still giving me opportunities of a resit until I get the full marks from You my examiner Amen.
¹⁸ Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them, and will reveal her secrets to them.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 18)
After times of testing or examination, You will come back to us and refresh our souls and give us motivation and strength along with spiritual growth to move on in life Amen. Thanks, Jesus.
¹⁹ If they go astray she will forsake them, and hand them over to their ruin.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 19)
Oh God my Father loving You is far better than loving wisdom, for You never forsake me, but on the contrary, You are always ready to welcome me back into Your arms even though You know that I am weak and prone to sin Amen.
²⁰ Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil. and do not be ashamed to be yourself.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 20)
Oh God my Father I thank You for all the support that You gave me today. I felt tense and anxious that the money I had were not enough to cover the expenditure of the maintenance carried out on my house. I thank you for providing me with good management skills of my resources in order to cope with the pending demands. I pray that You help me to time the next phase of the project Amen.
²¹ For there is a shame that leads to sin, and there is a shame that is glory and favor.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 21)
Oh God my Father I have the shame of being a sinful person, I am ashamed of my previous and present sins, however, on the other hand, I am consoled by Your forgiveness which turns my shame into graces and satisfaction Amen.
²² Do not show partiality, to your own harm, or defence, to your downfall.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 22)
Oh God my Father this is why I pray for Your wisdom, for the power of the Holy Spirit, so that my judgments and decisions will be free from personal bias and just Amen.
²³ Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment, and do not hide your wisdom.
(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 23)
Oh God my Father I thank You for giving me the proper words at the proper time last week where I felt that an intervention was needed just at that time. I thank You for giving me a righteous spirit to talk both on behalf of myself and that of others Amen. I thank You for using me to stimulate others to raise their voices in favour of positive change Amen.
