Ecclesiasticus, 4
31. Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.
31. Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.
Ecclesiastical 4 talks about the importance of wisdom, fraternal love, humility and perseverance in life. The chapter also warns of the traps of pride, greed and envy, which can lead to ruin. Below are five verses related to these themes:
Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the Lord is the principle of wisdom, and the knowledge of the saint is prudence." This verse highlights the importance of fear of God to acquire wisdom, one of the central themes of ecclesiastical 4.
1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, however, it tends intense love to each other, because love covers a multitude of sins." Fraternal love is emphasized in ecclesiastical 4, and this verse of Peter highlights its importance in the Christian context.
James 4:6: "But he gives greater grace. Therefore, he says, God resists the superb, but gives grace to the humble." Humility is a recurring theme in ecclesiastical 4, and this verse of James reinforces the idea that God favors the humble.
Proverbs 16:18: "Superb precedes ruin, and the haughtiness of the Spirit precedes the fall." This verse warns of the danger of pride, one of the sins that ecclesiastical 4 warns as a trap for fools.
Hebrews 10:36: "Indeed, you need perseverance, so that having done God's will, you will reach the promise." Perseverance is an important theme in ecclesiastical 4, and this verse of Hebrews urges Christians to stay firm in faith.
“Vive-se de fé, não de sonhos.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina