Sirach 20

¹ An admonition can be inopportune, and a man may be wise to hold his peace.

² It is much better to admonish than to lose one's temper, for one who admits his fault will be kept from disgrace.

³ Like a eunuch lusting for intimacy with a maiden is he who does right under compulsion.

⁴ One man is silent and is thought wise, another is talkative and is disliked.

⁵ One man is silent because he has nothing to say; another is silent, biding his time.

⁶ A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time.

⁷ He who talks too much is detested; he who pretends to authority is hated.

⁸ Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss.

⁹ Some gifts do one no good, and some must be paid back double.

¹⁰ Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can lift up his head.

¹¹ A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over.

¹² A wise man makes himself popular by a few words, but fools pour forth their blandishments in vain.

¹³ A gift from a rogue will do you no good, for in his eyes his one gift is equal to seven.

¹⁴ He gives little and criticizes often, and like a crier he shouts aloud. He lends today, he asks it back tomorrow; hateful indeed is such a man.

¹⁵ A fool has no friends, nor thanks for his generosity;

¹⁶ Those who eat his bread have an evil tongue. How many times they laugh him to scorn!

¹⁷ A fall to the ground is less sudden than a slip of the tongue; that is why the downfall of the wicked comes so quickly.

¹⁸ Insipid food is the untimely tale; the unruly are always ready to offer it.

¹⁹ A proverb when spoken by a fool is unwelcome, for he does not utter it at the proper time.

²⁰ A man through want may be unable to sin, yet in this tranquility he cannot rest.

²¹ One may lose his life through shame, and perish through a fool's intimidation.

²² A man makes a promise to a friend out of shame, and has him for his enemy needlessly.

²³ A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is constantly on the lips of the unruly.

²⁴ Better a thief than an inveterate liar, yet both will suffer disgrace;

²⁵ A liar's way leads to dishonor, his shame remains ever with him.

²⁶ A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases the great.

²⁷ He who works his land has abundant crops, he who pleases the great is pardoned his faults.

²⁸ Favors and gifts blind the eyes; like a muzzle over the mouth they silence reproof.

²⁹ Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure-- of what value is either?

³⁰ Better the man who hides his folly than the one who hides his wisdom.