Sirach 22

¹ The lazy man is pelted with a dirty stone, and all will speak about his rejection.

² The lazy man is pelted with the dung of oxen, and all who touch him will brush off their hands.

³ An undisciplined son is the shame of his father, but an undisciplined daughter will be to his degradation.

⁴ A prudent daughter brings an inheritance to her husband. But she who causes shame will be a disgrace to him who conceived her.

⁵ She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and she will not be less offensive to the impious. For she will be held in dishonor by both.

⁶ An untimely explanation is like music in a time of mourning. But the sharp correction and doctrine of wisdom are ever timely.

⁷ Whoever teaches the foolish is like someone who glues together a broken pot.

⁸ Whoever explains a word to one who is not listening is like someone who suddenly awakens a sleeping person from a deep sleep.

⁹ Whoever explains wisdom to the senseless is like one speaking to a sleeping person. And at the end of the explanation, he says: “Who is this?”

¹⁰ Weep over the dead, for his light has failed. And weep over the foolish, for his understanding has failed.

¹¹ Weep only a little over the dead, for he is at rest.

¹² But the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.

¹³ The mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the foolish and the impious, it is all the days of their life.

¹⁴ You should not talk at length with the foolish, and you should not go with the senseless.

¹⁵ Keep yourself from him, so that you may not have problems, and so that you will not be polluted by his sin.

¹⁶ Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you will not be discouraged by his foolishness.

¹⁷ What is heavier than lead? And what else can he be called but foolish?

¹⁸ Sand, and salt, and an iron weight are each easier to bear than an imprudent man, who is both foolish and impious.

¹⁹ A bundle of wood strapped together in the foundation of a building will not be loosened. And similar is the heart that has been strengthened by thoughtful counsel.

²⁰ The thoughts of one who is understanding will not be corrupted by fear in any situation.

²¹ Just as chaff in a high place, or a wall made of mortar without stones set within, will not continue against the face of the wind,

²² so also a timid heart, and the thoughts of the senseless, will not withstand the forcefulness of fear.

²³ Despite a cowardly heart, the thoughts of the foolish will not fear any situation; yet neither will one who continues always in the precepts of God.

²⁴ He who jabs an eye produces tears. And he who jabs the heart produces understanding.

²⁵ He who throws a stone at birds will drive them away. So also, he who accuses his friend dissolves the friendship.

²⁶ But if you have drawn a sword against a friend, you should not despair; for there may be a way back.

²⁷ If you have opened a harsh mouth against a friend, you should not fear; for there may be a reconciliation. However, if there are accusations, or abuse, or arrogance, or the revealing of secrets, or a wound from deceitfulness, in all these cases, a friend will flee away.

²⁸ Hold to faithfulness with a friend in his poverty, so that you may also rejoice in his prosperity.

²⁹ In the time of his tribulation, remain faithful to him, so that you may also be an heir with him in his inheritance.

³⁰ Just as the steam from an oven, or the smoke from a fire, rises up before a flame, so also do curses and insults and threats rise up before bloodshed.

³¹ I shall not be ashamed to greet a friend, nor shall I hide myself from his face. And if misfortunes befall me because of him, I will endure.

³² Anyone who hears of this will be wary around him.

³³ Who will provide a keeper for my mouth, and a reliable seal over my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and so that my tongue does not destroy me?