Sirach 5

¹Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.

²Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:

³And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.

⁴Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.

⁵Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:

⁶And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins.

⁷For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh upon sinners.

⁸Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day.

⁹For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance he will destroy thee.

¹⁰Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.

¹¹Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is every sinner proved by a double tongue.

¹²Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep with thee.

¹³Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return a true answer with wisdom.

¹⁴If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded.

¹⁵Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of the fool is his ruin.

¹⁶Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and confounded.

¹⁷For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and enmity, and reproach.

¹⁸Justify alike the small and the great.

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.