Sirach 5

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.	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 Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:	2 You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart.
3 And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.	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, and whet harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.	4 You should not say, “I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?” For the Most High is a patient recompensor.
5 Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not 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 And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins.	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 wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh upon sinners.	7 For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners.
8 Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not 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 his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance he will destroy thee.	9 For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you.
10 Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.	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 with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is every sinner proved by a double tongue.	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 steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep with thee.	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 meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return a true answer with wisdom.	13 Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom.
14 If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded.	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 Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of the fool is his ruin.	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 whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and confounded.	16 You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded.
17 For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and enmity, and reproach.	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 alike the small and the great.	18 Justify the small and the great similarly.