Sirach 32

¹Have they appointed you as a leader? Do not be willing to be extolled. Be among them as one of them.

²Have concern for them, and in this way sit down with them, and when you have explained all your concerns, sit back.

³Then you may rejoice because of them, and you may receive a crown as an adornment of grace, and so obtain the dignity of the assembly.

⁴Speak, you who are greater by birth. For it is fitting for you

⁵to speak the first word with careful knowledge. But you should not hinder the music.

⁶Where no one is listening, you should not pour out words. And do not choose to be extolled improperly for your wisdom.

⁷A gemstone of garnet is set amid an ornament of gold, and a concert of music is set amid a banquet of wine.

⁸Just as a signet of emerald is set amid a work of gold, so is a melody of music set amid delightful and moderate wine.

⁹Listen silently, and for your reverence, good graces will be added to you.

¹⁰Young man, speak in your own case only reluctantly.

¹¹If you have been asked twice, let your response be concise.

¹²In many matters, be as if you lack knowledge, and listen silently as well as intently.

¹³In the midst of great men, you should not be presumptuous. And where the elders are present, you should not speak much.

¹⁴Lightning goes before a hailstorm, and grace goes before modesty. And so, for your reverence, good graces will be added to you.

¹⁵And at the hour for rising, you should not be lax. Later, be the first to run ahead to your house, and there withdraw, and there take your pastime.

¹⁶And act according to your intentions, but not in sin and not in arrogant speech.

¹⁷And for all these things, bless the Lord, who made you, and who fills you to overflowing with all his good things.

¹⁸Whoever fears the Lord will accept his doctrine. And whoever watches for him diligently will find a blessing.

¹⁹Whoever seeks the law will be filled from the law. But whoever acts with treachery will be scandalized by treachery.

²⁰Those who fear the Lord will find just judgment, and they will kindle justice like a light.

²¹A sinful man will shun correction, and he will find a rationalization in accord with his own will.

²²A man of counsel will not reject understanding. A strange and arrogant man will not be disturbed by fear.

²³Even so, after he has acted out of fear and without counsel, he will be rebuked by his own criticism.

²⁴Son, you should do nothing without counsel, and then you will not regret what you have done.

²⁵You should not go into the way of ruin, and you then will not stumble on stones. You should not commit yourself to a laborious way; otherwise, you may set up a scandal against your own soul.

²⁶And be cautious concerning your own sons. And be attentive to those of your own household.

²⁷In all of your works, trust your soul to faith. For this is the keeping of the commandments.

²⁸Whoever believes God attends to the commandments. And whoever trusts in him will not be diminished.

Sirach 32

¹Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

²Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

³That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

⁴Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

⁵To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.

⁶Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.

⁷A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

⁸As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

⁹Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

¹⁰Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

¹¹If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

¹²In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

¹³In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

¹⁴Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

¹⁵And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

¹⁶And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

¹⁷And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

¹⁸He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

¹⁹He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

²⁰They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

²¹A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

²²A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

²³Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

²⁴My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

²⁵Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

²⁶And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

²⁷In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

²⁸He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.