You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy and do not turn away lest you fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust him and you will not lose your reward.
You who fear the Lord, hope for all good things; hope for eternal joy and mercy.
Remember what happened to your ancestors. Who has ever trusted in the Lord and been confounded? Who has persevered in fear of the Lord and been abandoned? Who has called upon him and not been heard?
For the Lord is compassion and loving-kindness; he forgives our sins and saves us in time of distress.
Woe to faint hearts and weak hands, to the sinner who wavers between two paths.
Woe to the fainthearted who lack confidence, because of this they will not be protected.
Woe to you who have lost patience! What will you do when the Lord calls you to account?
Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his commandments, those who love him faithfully keep his laws.
Those who fear the Lord seek to please him; those who love him are filled with his law.
Those who fear the Lord keep their hearts ready and humble themselves in his presence saying,
“Let us all fall into the hands of the Lord and not into the hands of men, for great as his power is his mercy.”
Sirach 2:7-17