Sirach 19

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 He who does so grows no richer; he who wastes the little he has will be stripped bare.	1 A workman who is a drunkard will not become rich; he who despises small things will fail little by little.
2 Wine and women make the mind giddy, and the companion of harlots becomes reckless.	2 Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, and the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless.
3 Rottenness and worms will possess him, for contumacious desire destroys its owner.	3 Decay and worms will inherit him, and the reckless soul will be snatched away.
4 He who lightly trusts in them has no sense, and he who strays after them sins against his own life.	4 One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded, and one who sins does wrong to himself.
5 He who gloats over evil will meet with evil, and he who repeats an evil report has no sense.	5 One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,
6 Never repeat gossip, and you will not be reviled.	6 and for one who hates gossip evil is lessened.
7 Tell nothing to friend or foe; if you have a fault, reveal it not,	7 Never repeat a conversation, and you will lose nothing at all.
8 For he who hears it will hold it against you, and in time become your enemy.	8 With friend or foe do not report it, and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it;
9 Let anything you hear die within you; be assured it will not make you burst.	9 for some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you.
10 When a fool hears something, he is in labor, like a woman giving birth to a child.	10 Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Be brave! It will not make you burst!
11 Like an arrow lodged in a man's thigh is gossip in the breast of a fool.	11 With such a word a fool will suffer pangs like a woman in labor with a child.
12 Admonish your friend--he may not have done it; and if he did, that he may not do it again.	12 Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word inside a fool.
13 Admonish your neighbor--he may not have said it; and if he did, that he may not say it again.	13 Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more.
14 Admonish your friend--often it may be slander; every story you must not believe.	14 Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again.
15 Then, too, a man can slip and not mean it; who has not sinned with his tongue?	15 Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.
16 Admonish your neighbor before you break with him; thus will you fulfill the law of the Most High.	16 A person may make a slip without intending it. Who has never sinned with his tongue?
17 All wisdom is fear of the LORD; perfect wisdom is the fulfillment of the law.	17 Question your neighbor before you threaten him; and let the law of the Most High take its course.
18 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.	18 .
19 There is a shrewdness that is detestable, while the simple man may be free from sin.	19 .
20 There are those with little understanding who fear God, and those of great intelligence who violate the law.	20 All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.
21 There is a shrewdness keen but dishonest, which by duplicity wins a judgment.	21 .
22 There is the wicked man who is bowed in grief, but is full of guile within;	22 But the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence where sinners take counsel.
23 He bows his head and feigns not to hear, but when not observed, he will take advantage of you:	23 There is a cleverness which is abominable, but there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.
24 Even though his lack of strength keeps him from sinning, when he finds the opportunity, he will do harm.	24 Better is the God-fearing man who lacks intelligence, than the highly prudent man who transgresses the law.
25 One can tell a man by his appearance; a wise man is known as such when first met.	25 There is a cleverness which is scrupulous but unjust, and there are people who distort kindness to gain a verdict.
26 A man's attire, his hearty laughter and his gait, proclaim him for what he is.	26 There is a rascal bowed down in mourning, but inwardly he is full of deceit.
	27 He hides his face and pretends not to hear; but where no one notices, he will forestall you.
	28 And if by lack of strength he is prevented from sinning, he will do evil when he finds an opportunity.
	29 A man is known by his appearance, and a sensible man is known by his face, when you meet him.
	30 A man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, and a man's manner of walking, show what he is.