🌟🙌🏼🌟SN-ECCLESIASTICUS CHAPTER 35
He that keeps the Turah brings offerings enough: he that takes heed to the commandment offers a peace offering. He that requites a good turn offers fine flour; and he that gives alms sacrifices praise. To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to YAHUAH; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation. You shall not appear empty before YAHUAH. For all these things are to be done because of the commandment. The offering of the righteous makes the altar fat, and the sweet savor thereof is before Aluah. The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable, and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten. Give YAHUAH His honor with a good eye and diminish not the firstfruits of your hands. In all your gifts show a cheerful countenance and dedicate your tithes with gladness. Give unto Aluah according as He has enriched you; and as you have gotten, give with a cheerful eye. For YAHUAH recompenses and will give you seven times as much. Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such He will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for YAHUAH is Judge, and with Him is no respect of persons. He will not accept any person against a poor man but will hear the prayer of the oppressed. He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she pours out her complaint. Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? And is not her cry against him that causes them to fall? He that serves YAHUAH shall be accepted with favor, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till Aluah shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment. For YAHUAH will not be slack, neither will AL be patient toward them, till He have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repaid vengeance to the heathen; till He have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the scepter of the unrighteous; Till He have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till He have judged the cause of His people, and made them to rejoice in His compassion. Compassion is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought. sn-Ecclesiasticus 35:1-20
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 35 provides profound insights into the principles of righteous living and spiritual devotion. Central to this chapter is the concept that true offerings and sacrifices to YAHUAH must come from a sincere heart, reflecting obedience to the Turah and God’s commandments. The text emphasizes that acts of kindness, almsgiving, and moral integrity are considered acceptable sacrifices, pleasing to Aluah (God). One of the key themes is the importance of giving with a cheerful countenance and integrity, where the firstfruits and tithes are offered gladly, acknowledging God's enrichment. This aligns with biblical teachings found in other scriptures, such as Proverbs and Leviticus, where honoring God through generosity and just actions brings divine favor and blessings, sometimes even sevenfold, as noted in this chapter. The passage also stresses God’s impartiality in judgment: no gift or sacrifice can corrupt or sway Him, and He does not show favoritism. Rather, YAHUAH listens attentively to the prayers of the humble, oppressed, widows, and orphans. This highlights a strong social justice aspect, affirming the value of compassion and care for the vulnerable in society, a recurring theme in Judaic-Christian ethics. Furthermore, the prayer of the humble is said to pierce the clouds and ascend to the heavens, demonstrating the power and efficacy of persistent faith and humility in approaching God. The text reassures readers that God will act justly and swiftly against the unmerciful and proud, repaying their deeds accordingly, and ultimately delivering justice for His people. Such teachings underscore the broader theological lessons about the nature of divine justice and mercy. Compassion is timely and necessary, likened to rain clouds during a drought—refreshing and life-giving. This metaphor reinforces hope for those enduring affliction, assuring them of God’s attentive and compassionate response in due season. For believers and scholars, this chapter underscores the importance of sincere worship, ethical living, and social responsibility as integral pathways to receiving God's favor and participating in His righteous judgment. It encourages reflection on how one’s actions, prayers, and offerings align with divine expectations and how they can contribute to spiritual growth and communal well-being.