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1 He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering. 2 He that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise. 3 To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation. 4 Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord. 5 For all these things [are to be done] because of the commandment. 6 The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High. 7 The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten. 8 Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands. 9 In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness. 10 Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye. 11 For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much. 12 Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons. 13 He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed. 14 He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint. 15 Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall? 16 He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds. 17 The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment. 18 For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous; 19 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 mercy. 20 Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.
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[AD 253] Origen of Alexandria on Sirach 35:17
The soul should attend not only to the hearing of the words but to the understanding of the realities. Recall the past, understand the present, attend to the future. Compare events in their succession, and contemplate the magnificence of the divine powers. Earlier, six hundred thousand armed sons of Israel advanced against Midian, and they were all defeated because of the sin that was in them. Now, however, the victorious Midianites, who had routed six hundred thousand men, are beaten by twelve thousand, so that you would know that Israel does not win by the multitude or number of its soldiers but by the justice and piety that are in them. Thus also in their blessings it is said that if they observe the law of the Lord, one of them will pursue a thousand, and two will cause ten thousand to flee. See, then, that a single saint who prays is worth much more than innumerable sinners in battle. “The prayer of the Holy One pierces heaven.” How will it not also defeat earthly enemies? For this reason, in every way you must make an effort to “seek” first and to preserve “the righteousness of God.” If you attain it and keep it, it will subject all of your enemies to you: if, as the apostle says, you are “clothed with the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth, if you take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit” and, above all, the “shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one.” Equipped with these weapons, you will put to flight all of the camps of the devil and his whole army, and you will faithfully sing, “If they encamp against me, my heart will not fear. If they raise a battle against me, even then will I hope.”

Source: HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 25:2.1-2
[AD 533] Fulgentius of Ruspe on Sirach 35:17
We defeat the adversary only if we fight with tears and with prayers, in continual humility of heart. It is written, in fact, that “the prayer of the humble penetrates the clouds and is not withdrawn from God until it is answered.” The weeping of the humble is therefore a great antidote against carnal concupiscence. Tears that spring from compunction of heart defeat the enemy and gain for us the gift of a victorious happiness. In fact, those who “go out weeping, scattering their seeds, will return rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.” How wisely the holy prophet teaches that the seeds of good works must be watered with rivers of tears! Indeed, no seed germinates without being watered. Nor does a seed bear fruit if it has been without the benefit of water. We also, therefore, if we wish to harvest the fruits of our seeds, should not cease watering them with tears, which should spring from the heart more than from the body. This is why we are told through the prophet to rend our hearts, not our garments.

Source: LETTERS 4:9.5
[AD 430] Augustine of Hippo on Sirach 35:20
When tribulation comes, you will not be without help. This will show you that what he sent you during the day was true. In a certain passage it is written, “Mercy is as wonderful in time of affliction as clouds that bear rain in time of drought.” “By day the Lord sent his mercy, and by night I will tell of it.” At no time does he show you his help more than when tribulation comes, in such a way that he who had promised by day that he would do so, frees you from it.

Source: EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 41:16