Sirach 5

¹Nile thou take heed to wickid possessiouns, and seie thou not, Sufficient lijf is to me; for it schal no thing profite in the tyme of veniaunce, and of failynge, ether deth.

²Sue thou not the coueitise of thin herte in thi strengthe,

³and seie thou not, As Y myyte, ether who schal make me suget for my dedis? For whi God vengynge schal venge.

⁴Seie thou not, Y haue synned, and what sorewful thing bifelle to me? For the hiyeste is a pacient yeldere.

⁵Of the foryyuenesse of synnes, nyle thou be without drede, nether heepe thou synne on synne.

⁶And seie thou not, The merciful doyng of God is greet; he schal haue merci on the multitude of my synnes.

⁷For whi merci and ire neiyeth soone fro hym, and his ire biholdith on synneris.

⁸Tarie thou not to be conuertid to the Lord, and dilaie thou not fro dai in to dai.

⁹For whi his ire schal come sodeynli, and he schal leese thee in the time of veniaunce.

¹⁰Nyle thou be angwischid in vniust richessis; for tho schulen not profite in the dai of failing, ether of deth, and of veniaunce.

¹¹Wyndewe thee not in to ech wynd, and go thou not in to ech weie; for so a synnere is preued in double tunge.

¹²Be thou stidfast in the weie of the Lord, and in treuthe and kunnyng of thi wit; and the word of pees and riytfulnesse sue thee perfitli.

¹³Be thou mylde to here the word of God, that thou vndurstonde, and with wisdom brynge thou forth a trewe answere.

¹⁴If thou hast vndirstondyng, answere thi neiybore; ellis thin hond be on thi mouth, lest thou be takun in a word vnwiseli tauyt, and be aschamed.

¹⁵Onour and glorie is in the word of a wijs man; but the tunge of an vnprudent man is his distriyng.

¹⁶Be thou not clepid a preuy yuel spekere in thi lijf, and be thou not takun in thi tunge, and be aschamed.

¹⁷Schame and penaunce is on a theef, and worst schenschip is on a man of double tunge. Forsothe hatrede and enemytee and dispisyng is to a preuy bacbitere.

¹⁸Iustifie thou a litil man and a greet man in lijk maner.

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.