Sirach 5

¹Do not choose to seek iniquitous possessions, and you should not say: “I have all I need in life.” For it will be of no benefit to you in the time of retribution and darkness.

²You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart.

³And you should not say: “How powerful am I?” or, “Who will cast me down because of my deeds?” For God will vindicate with vengeance.

⁴You should not say, “I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?” For the Most High is a patient recompensor.

⁵Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin.

⁶And you should not say: “The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins.”

⁷For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners.

⁸You should not delay being converted to the Lord, and you should not set it aside from day to day.

⁹For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you.

¹⁰Do not choose to be anxious for unjust wealth. For these things will not benefit you in the day of darkness and retribution.

¹¹You should not winnow in every wind, and you should not go forth into every path. For so is every sinner proven by his duplicitous tongue.

¹²Be steadfast in the way of the Lord and in the truth of your understanding and knowledge, and let words of peace and justice overtake you.

¹³Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom.

¹⁴If you understand, then answer your neighbor. But if you do not, then let your hand be over your mouth, so that you are not caught by an inept word, and then confounded.

¹⁵Honor and glory are in the words of those who understand, yet truly, the tongue of the imprudent man is his undoing.

¹⁶You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded.

¹⁷For confusion and remorse is upon a thief, and a wicked mark is upon the double-tongued; but for the whisperer, there is hatred and animosity and disgrace.

¹⁸Justify the small and the great similarly.

Sirach 5

¹Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life.

²Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart:

³And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride.

⁴Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.

⁵Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin:

⁶And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners.

⁷Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.

⁸Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity.

⁹Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.

¹⁰Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.

¹¹Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.

¹²If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

¹³Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall.

¹⁴Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.

¹⁵Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.