There are those who exhaust themselves, tire themselves out and become anxious, yet in the end they are only the poorer.
There are those who are weak, needing support, lacking goods and in great poverty, yet the eyes of the Lord look on them with favor. The Lord will redress their humiliation.
He will raise their heads and many people will marvel on this account.
Sirach 11:11-13
Annotation from the Bible (CCB-CPE):
“These thoughts are not new in the Bible which encourages us on every page to trust in God. Ben Sira foretells what we will find on the lips of Jesus concerning wealth (see Lk 12:16).
And he says: Love the Covenant, dedicate your life to it. The Covenant means following the Law. Jesus, too, will speak of seeking the kingdom of God instead of being preoccupied with providing for the future.
Note the end of this text. The Book of Sirach, like certain parts of the Book of Job, affirms that God may wait until death to give a reward; but he does not risk speaking of what will follow: faith in the resurrection was as yet undeveloped.”