Sirach 8

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Contend not with an influential man, lest you fall into his power.	1 You should not quarrel with a powerful man, lest perhaps you may fall into his hands.
2 Quarrel not with a rich man, lest he pay out the price of your downfall; For gold has dazzled many, and perverts the character of princes.	2 You should not contend with a wealthy man, lest perhaps he may bring an action against you.
3 Dispute not with a man of railing speech, heap no wood upon his fire.	3 For gold and silver have destroyed many, and have reached and corrupted even the hearts of kings.
4 Be not too familiar with an unruly man, lest he speak ill of your forebears.	4 You should not quarrel with a man who is full of words, for you should not cast wood upon his fire.
5 Shame not a repentant sinner; remember, we all are guilty.	5 You should not confide in an ignorant man, lest he speak evil about your family.
6 Insult no man when he is old, for some of us, too, will grow old.	6 You should not despise a man who turns himself away from sin, nor reproach him with it. Remember that we are all subject to correction.
7 Rejoice not when a man dies; remember, we are all to die.	7 You should not spurn a man in his old age. For we are all subject to growing old.
8 Spurn not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint yourself with their proverbs; From them you will acquire the training to serve in the presence of princes.	8 Do not be willing to rejoice at the death of your enemy, knowing that we all die, and that we do not want others rejoice over us.
9 Reject not the tradition of old men which they have learned from their fathers; From it you will obtain the knowledge how to answer in time of need.	9 You should not despise the discourse of those who are old and wise; instead, ponder their proverbs.
10 Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest you be consumed in his flaming fire.	10 For from them, you will learn wisdom and intelligent doctrine, so as to serve great men without blame.
11 Let not the impious man intimidate you; it will set him in ambush against you.	11 Do not allow the discourse of your elders to pass you by. For they have learned from their fathers.
12 Lend not to one more powerful than yourself; and whatever you lend, count it as lost.	12 And from them, you will learn understanding, and you will learn what response to give in a time of necessity.
13 Go not surety beyond your means; think any pledge a debt you must pay.	13 You should not kindle the coals of sinners by arguing with them. For you might be scorched by the flame from the fire of their sins.
14 Contend not at law with a judge, for he will settle it according to his whim.	14 You should not stand against the face of a contemptuous person, otherwise he may sit down as if waiting in ambush against your words.
15 Travel not with a ruthless man, lest he weigh you down with calamity; For he will go his own way straight, and through his folly you will perish with him.	15 You should not lend to a man who is stronger than you. But if you do lend, consider it lost.
16 Provoke no quarrel with a quick-tempered man, nor ride with him through the desert, For bloodshed is nothing to him; when there is no one to help you, he will destroy you.	16 You should not promise beyond your ability. But if you do promise, consider how to fulfill it.
17 Take no counsel with a fool, for he can keep nothing to himself.	17 You should not judge against a judge. For he judges according to what is just.
18 Before a stranger do nothing that should be kept secret, for you know not what it will engender.	18 You should not go forth on the way with an audacious man, lest perhaps he may burden you with his evils. For he goes forth according to his own will, and you will perish with him in his folly.
19 Open your heart to no man, and banish not your happiness.	19 You should not start a conflict with an angry man, and you should not go into the desert with an audacious man. For shedding blood is nothing to him, and in a place where there is no help for you, he will overthrow you.
	20 You should not hold counsel with the foolish. For they are not able to love anything except what pleases them.
	21 You should not take counsel in the sight of an outsider. For you do not know what he will do next.
	22 You should not reveal your heart to every man, lest perhaps he may offer a false kindness to you, and then speak reproachfully about you.