Sirach 20

¹ How much better is it to reprove, than to become angry, so as not to hinder him who may confess in prayer.

² The lust of an eunuch will deflower a young maiden;

³ similar is he who by violence gives an iniquitous judgment.

⁴ How good it is, when you are corrected, to show contrition! For in this way, you will escape deliberate sin.

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 There is one who, not having the understanding to speak, remains silent. And there is another who remains silent, knowing the proper time.

⁷ A wise man will remain silent until the proper time. But an unrestrained and imprudent person will not heed the times.

⁸ Whoever uses many words will wound his own soul. And whoever unjustly takes authority upon himself will be hated.

⁹ There is advancement in evil for an undisciplined man, and there is a plan which turns to his detriment.

¹⁰ There is a gift which is not helpful, and there is a gift, the repayment for which is double.

¹¹ There is a loss for the sake of boasting, and there is one who will lift up his head from lowliness.

¹² There is one who buys much for a small price, and who pays it back sevenfold.

¹³ Anyone wise in words makes himself loved. But the graces of the foolish will be poured away.

¹⁴ A gift from the unwise will not benefit you. For his gaze is divided, sevenfold.

¹⁵ He will give little, and reproach much. And the opening of his mouth is like a burning flame.

¹⁶ There is one who lends today and demands repayment tomorrow. A man such as this is hateful.

¹⁷ A foolish man will not have a friend, and there will be no thanks for his good deeds.

¹⁸ For those who eat his bread have a false tongue. How often and how many are those who will ridicule him!

¹⁹ For what he possesses, he does not distribute with correct understanding. And he acts similarly with what he does not possess.

²⁰ The slip of a false tongue is like someone who falls upon pavement. Such a fall for the wicked will arrive quickly.

²¹ A disagreeable man is like a pointless fable; it will be continually in the mouth of the undisciplined.

²² A parable from the mouth of a fool will be rejected. For he does not speak it at the proper time.

²³ There is one who is prevented from sinning by poverty, and in his rest, he will be vexed.

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 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 lie is a wicked disgrace to a man, and yet lies will be continually in the mouths of those without discipline.

²⁷ A thief is better than a man who constantly lies. But both of them will inherit perdition.

²⁸ The habits of lying men are without honor. And their shame is with them without ceasing.

²⁹ A wise man will benefit himself by his own words, and a prudent man will please the powerful.

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.