Sirach 5

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Rely not on your wealth; say not: "I have the power."	1 Do 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.
2 Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart.	2 You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart.
3 Say not: "Who can prevail against me?" for the LORD will exact the punishment.	3 And you should not say: “How powerful am I?” or, “Who will cast me down because of my deeds?” For God will vindicate with vengeance.
4 Say not: "I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?" for the LORD bides his time.	4 You should not say, “I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?” For the Most High is a patient recompensor.
5 Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin.	5 Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin.
6 Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive."	6 And you should not say: “The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins.”
7 For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath.	7 For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners.
8 Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day;	8 You should not delay being converted to the Lord, and you should not set it aside from day to day.
9 For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed.	9 For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you.
10 Rely not upon deceitful wealth, for it will be no help on the day of wrath.	10 Do not choose to be anxious for unjust wealth. For these things will not benefit you in the day of darkness and retribution.
11 Winnow not in every wind, and start not off in every direction.	11 You 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.
12 Be consistent in your thoughts; steadfast be your words.	12 Be 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.
13 Be swift to hear, but slow to answer.	13 Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom.
14 If you have the knowledge, answer your neighbor; if not, put your hand over your mouth.	14 If 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.
15 Honor and dishonor through talking! A man's tongue can be his downfall.	15 Honor and glory are in the words of those who understand, yet truly, the tongue of the imprudent man is his undoing.
16 Be not called a detractor; use not your tongue for calumny;	16 You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded.
17 For shame has been created for the thief, and the reproach of his neighbor for the double-tongued.	17 For 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.
	18 Justify the small and the great similarly.