Ben Sira - chapter 2

2: 1 - 18 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
My child, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself to be tried. Set your heart right and be firm, and do not be hasty when things go against you; hold fast to Him, and do not forsake Him, so that you may be honored when your life ends. Accept whatever happens to you, and be patient in humiliating vicissitudes. For gold is tested with fire, and men who are approved must be tested in the furnace of humliation. Have faith in Him, and He will help you; make your ways straight, and put your hope in Him. You who fear the Lord, wait for His mercy, and do not turn aside, or you will fall. You who fear the Lord, wait for His mercy, and do not turn aside, or you will fall. You who fear the Lord, have faith in Him, and you will not lose your reward. You who fear the Lord, hope for His blessings, and for everlasting joy and mercy. Look at the generations of antiquity and see, who that put his trust in the Lord was ever put to shame? Or who that persevered in the fear of the Lord was ever forsaken? Or who that called upon Him was overlooked by Him? For the Lord is merciful and has pity, and forgives sins and delivers in times of affliction. Alas for cowardly hearts and palsied hands! And for a sinner who follows two paths! Alas for a faint heart, for it does not believe; therefore it will not be protected. Alas for you, who have lost your steadfastness! What will you do when the Lord visits you? Those who fear the Lord will not disobey His words, and those who love Him will keep His ways. Those who fear the Lord will seek His favor, and those who love Him will be filled with the Law. Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will humble their souls before Him. "Let us fall into the Lord's hands, and not into the hands of mortals." For as His majesty is, so is His mercy also, and equal to His name are His works!