Sirach 22

¹The lazy man is pelted with a dirty stone, and all will speak about his rejection.

²The lazy man is pelted with the dung of oxen, and all who touch him will brush off their hands.

³An undisciplined son is the shame of his father, but an undisciplined daughter will be to his degradation.

⁴A prudent daughter brings an inheritance to her husband. But she who causes shame will be a disgrace to him who conceived her.

⁵She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and she will not be less offensive to the impious. For she will be held in dishonor by both.

⁶An untimely explanation is like music in a time of mourning. But the sharp correction and doctrine of wisdom are ever timely.

⁷Whoever teaches the foolish is like someone who glues together a broken pot.

⁸Whoever explains a word to one who is not listening is like someone who suddenly awakens a sleeping person from a deep sleep.

⁹Whoever explains wisdom to the senseless is like one speaking to a sleeping person. And at the end of the explanation, he says: “Who is this?”

¹⁰Weep over the dead, for his light has failed. And weep over the foolish, for his understanding has failed.

¹¹Weep only a little over the dead, for he is at rest.

¹²But the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.

¹³The mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the foolish and the impious, it is all the days of their life.

¹⁴You should not talk at length with the foolish, and you should not go with the senseless.

¹⁵Keep yourself from him, so that you may not have problems, and so that you will not be polluted by his sin.

¹⁶Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you will not be discouraged by his foolishness.

¹⁷What is heavier than lead? And what else can he be called but foolish?

¹⁸Sand, and salt, and an iron weight are each easier to bear than an imprudent man, who is both foolish and impious.

¹⁹A bundle of wood strapped together in the foundation of a building will not be loosened. And similar is the heart that has been strengthened by thoughtful counsel.

²⁰The thoughts of one who is understanding will not be corrupted by fear in any situation.

²¹Just as chaff in a high place, or a wall made of mortar without stones set within, will not continue against the face of the wind,

²²so also a timid heart, and the thoughts of the senseless, will not withstand the forcefulness of fear.

²³Despite a cowardly heart, the thoughts of the foolish will not fear any situation; yet neither will one who continues always in the precepts of God.

²⁴He who jabs an eye produces tears. And he who jabs the heart produces understanding.

²⁵He who throws a stone at birds will drive them away. So also, he who accuses his friend dissolves the friendship.

²⁶But if you have drawn a sword against a friend, you should not despair; for there may be a way back.

²⁷If you have opened a harsh mouth against a friend, you should not fear; for there may be a reconciliation. However, if there are accusations, or abuse, or arrogance, or the revealing of secrets, or a wound from deceitfulness, in all these cases, a friend will flee away.

²⁸Hold to faithfulness with a friend in his poverty, so that you may also rejoice in his prosperity.

²⁹In the time of his tribulation, remain faithful to him, so that you may also be an heir with him in his inheritance.

³⁰Just as the steam from an oven, or the smoke from a fire, rises up before a flame, so also do curses and insults and threats rise up before bloodshed.

³¹I shall not be ashamed to greet a friend, nor shall I hide myself from his face. And if misfortunes befall me because of him, I will endure.

³²Anyone who hears of this will be wary around him.

³³Who will provide a keeper for my mouth, and a reliable seal over my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and so that my tongue does not destroy me?

Sirach 22

¹The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak of his disgrace.

²The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that toucheth him will shake his hands.

³A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish daughter shall be to his loss.

⁴A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father.

⁵She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both.

⁶A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time.

⁷He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd together.

⁸He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that waketh a man out of a deep sleep.

⁹He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this?

¹⁰Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the fool, for his understanding faileth.

¹¹Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest.

¹²For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.

¹³The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of their life.

¹⁴Talk not much with a fool and go not with him that hath no sense.

¹⁵Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sin.

¹⁶Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be wearied out with his folly.

¹⁷What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool?

¹⁸Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man without sense, that is both foolish and wicked.

¹⁹A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by advised counsel.

²⁰The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be depraved by fear.

²¹As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, will not stand against the face of the wind:

²²So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not resist against the violence of fear.

²³As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the commandments of God.

²⁴He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment.

²⁵He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship.

²⁶Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for there may be a returning. To a friend,

²⁷If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a friend will flee away.

²⁸Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his prosperity also thou mayst rejoice.

²⁹In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance.

³⁰As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, before blood.

³¹I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear it.

³²But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him.

³³Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?