"If thou come to serve the Lord...

"prepare thy soul for temptation.
Set thy heart aright and constantly endure
and make not haste in time of trouble.

"Cleave unto him, and depart not away,
that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.

"Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully,
and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.

"For gold is tried in the fire,
and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.

"Believe in him, and he will help thee;
order thy way aright, and trust in him.

"Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
and go not aside, lest ye fall.

"Ye that fear the Lord, believe him;
and your reward shall not fail.

"Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good,
and for everlasting joy and mercy.

"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?

"For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins,
and saveth in time of affliction."
Sirach 2:1-11