Sirach 20

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 An admonition can be inopportune, and a man may be wise to hold his peace.	1 How much better is it to reprove, than to become angry, so as not to hinder him who may confess in prayer.
2 It is much better to admonish than to lose one's temper, for one who admits his fault will be kept from disgrace.	2 The lust of an eunuch will deflower a young maiden;
3 Like a eunuch lusting for intimacy with a maiden is he who does right under compulsion.	3 similar is he who by violence gives an iniquitous judgment.
4 One man is silent and is thought wise, another is talkative and is disliked.	4 How good it is, when you are corrected, to show contrition! For in this way, you will escape deliberate sin.
5 One man is silent because he has nothing to say; another is silent, biding his time.	5 There is one who, by remaining silent, is found to be wise. And there is another who is hateful and who provokes by speaking out.
6 A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time.	6 There is one who, not having the understanding to speak, remains silent. And there is another who remains silent, knowing the proper time.
7 He who talks too much is detested; he who pretends to authority is hated.	7 A wise man will remain silent until the proper time. But an unrestrained and imprudent person will not heed the times.
8 Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss.	8 Whoever uses many words will wound his own soul. And whoever unjustly takes authority upon himself will be hated.
9 Some gifts do one no good, and some must be paid back double.	9 There is advancement in evil for an undisciplined man, and there is a plan which turns to his detriment.
10 Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can lift up his head.	10 There is a gift which is not helpful, and there is a gift, the repayment for which is double.
11 A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over.	11 There is a loss for the sake of boasting, and there is one who will lift up his head from lowliness.
12 A wise man makes himself popular by a few words, but fools pour forth their blandishments in vain.	12 There is one who buys much for a small price, and who pays it back sevenfold.
13 A gift from a rogue will do you no good, for in his eyes his one gift is equal to seven.	13 Anyone wise in words makes himself loved. But the graces of the foolish will be poured away.
14 He gives little and criticizes often, and like a crier he shouts aloud. He lends today, he asks it back tomorrow; hateful indeed is such a man.	14 A gift from the unwise will not benefit you. For his gaze is divided, sevenfold.
15 A fool has no friends, nor thanks for his generosity;	15 He will give little, and reproach much. And the opening of his mouth is like a burning flame.
16 Those who eat his bread have an evil tongue. How many times they laugh him to scorn!	16 There is one who lends today and demands repayment tomorrow. A man such as this is hateful.
17 A fall to the ground is less sudden than a slip of the tongue; that is why the downfall of the wicked comes so quickly.	17 A foolish man will not have a friend, and there will be no thanks for his good deeds.
18 Insipid food is the untimely tale; the unruly are always ready to offer it.	18 For those who eat his bread have a false tongue. How often and how many are those who will ridicule him!
19 A proverb when spoken by a fool is unwelcome, for he does not utter it at the proper time.	19 For what he possesses, he does not distribute with correct understanding. And he acts similarly with what he does not possess.
20 A man through want may be unable to sin, yet in this tranquility he cannot rest.	20 The slip of a false tongue is like someone who falls upon pavement. Such a fall for the wicked will arrive quickly.
21 One may lose his life through shame, and perish through a fool's intimidation.	21 A disagreeable man is like a pointless fable; it will be continually in the mouth of the undisciplined.
22 A man makes a promise to a friend out of shame, and has him for his enemy needlessly.	22 A parable from the mouth of a fool will be rejected. For he does not speak it at the proper time.
23 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is constantly on the lips of the unruly.	23 There is one who is prevented from sinning by poverty, and in his rest, he will be vexed.
24 Better a thief than an inveterate liar, yet both will suffer disgrace;	24 There is one who will lose his own soul because of pretense, and he will lose it by an example of imprudence. For by seeking the approval of another, he will destroy himself.
25 A liar's way leads to dishonor, his shame remains ever with him.	25 There is one who, for the sake of what other’s think, makes a promise to a friend, and so he gains him as an enemy for no reason.
26 A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases the great.	26 A lie is a wicked disgrace to a man, and yet lies will be continually in the mouths of those without discipline.
27 He who works his land has abundant crops, he who pleases the great is pardoned his faults.	27 A thief is better than a man who constantly lies. But both of them will inherit perdition.
28 Favors and gifts blind the eyes; like a muzzle over the mouth they silence reproof.	28 The habits of lying men are without honor. And their shame is with them without ceasing.
29 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure-- of what value is either?	29 A wise man will benefit himself by his own words, and a prudent man will please the powerful.
30 Better the man who hides his folly than the one who hides his wisdom.	30 Whoever works his land will raise high a stockpile of grain. And whoever works justice will himself be raised high. Yet truly, whoever pleases the powerful will escape unfair treatment.
	31 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and silence their mouths, turning them aside from their task of correction.
	32 Wisdom hidden, and treasure unseen: of what use is either of these?
	33 He who hides his foolishness is better than a man who conceals his wisdom.