Sirach 20

¹How much better is it to reprove, than to become angry, so as not to hinder him who may confess in prayer.

²The lust of an eunuch will deflower a young maiden;

³similar is he who by violence gives an iniquitous judgment.

⁴How good it is, when you are corrected, to show contrition! For in this way, you will escape deliberate sin.

⁵There is one who, by remaining silent, is found to be wise. And there is another who is hateful and who provokes by speaking out.

⁶There is one who, not having the understanding to speak, remains silent. And there is another who remains silent, knowing the proper time.

⁷A wise man will remain silent until the proper time. But an unrestrained and imprudent person will not heed the times.

⁸Whoever uses many words will wound his own soul. And whoever unjustly takes authority upon himself will be hated.

⁹There is advancement in evil for an undisciplined man, and there is a plan which turns to his detriment.

¹⁰There is a gift which is not helpful, and there is a gift, the repayment for which is double.

¹¹There is a loss for the sake of boasting, and there is one who will lift up his head from lowliness.

¹²There is one who buys much for a small price, and who pays it back sevenfold.

¹³Anyone wise in words makes himself loved. But the graces of the foolish will be poured away.

¹⁴A gift from the unwise will not benefit you. For his gaze is divided, sevenfold.

¹⁵He will give little, and reproach much. And the opening of his mouth is like a burning flame.

¹⁶There is one who lends today and demands repayment tomorrow. A man such as this is hateful.

¹⁷A foolish man will not have a friend, and there will be no thanks for his good deeds.

¹⁸For those who eat his bread have a false tongue. How often and how many are those who will ridicule him!

¹⁹For what he possesses, he does not distribute with correct understanding. And he acts similarly with what he does not possess.

²⁰The slip of a false tongue is like someone who falls upon pavement. Such a fall for the wicked will arrive quickly.

²¹A disagreeable man is like a pointless fable; it will be continually in the mouth of the undisciplined.

²²A parable from the mouth of a fool will be rejected. For he does not speak it at the proper time.

²³There is one who is prevented from sinning by poverty, and in his rest, he will be vexed.

²⁴There is one who will lose his own soul because of pretense, and he will lose it by an example of imprudence. For by seeking the approval of another, he will destroy himself.

²⁵There is one who, for the sake of what others think, makes a promise to a friend, and so he gains him as an enemy for no reason.

²⁶A lie is a wicked disgrace to a man, and yet lies will be continually in the mouths of those without discipline.

²⁷A thief is better than a man who constantly lies. But both of them will inherit perdition.

²⁸The habits of lying men are without honor. And their shame is with them without ceasing.

²⁹A wise man will benefit himself by his own words, and a prudent man will please the powerful.

³⁰Whoever works his land will raise high a stockpile of grain. And whoever works justice will himself be raised high. Yet truly, whoever pleases the powerful will escape unfair treatment.

³¹Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and silence their mouths, turning them aside from their task of correction.

³²Wisdom hidden, and treasure unseen: of what use is either of these?

³³He who hides his foolishness is better than a man who conceals his wisdom.

Sirach 20

¹How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.

²The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden:

³So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise.

⁴How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.

⁵There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.

⁶There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.

⁷A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.

⁸He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.

⁹There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.

¹⁰There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which is double.

¹¹There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate.

¹²There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold.

¹³A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.

¹⁴The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.

¹⁵He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.

¹⁶To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful.

¹⁷A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds.

¹⁸For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!

¹⁹For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.

²⁰The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

²¹A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually in the mouth of the unwise.

²²A parable coming out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in due season.

²³There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his rest he shall be pricked.

²⁴There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself.

²⁵There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.

²⁶A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline.

²⁷A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of them shall inherit destruction.

²⁸The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without ceasing.

²⁹A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent man shall please the great ones.

³⁰He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.

³¹Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.

³²O Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit is there in them both?

³³Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom.