Sirach 5

New American Bible	New Jerusalem Bible
¹ Rely not on your wealth; say not: "I have the power."	¹ Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I am self-sufficient.'
² Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart.	² Do not be led by your appetites and energy to follow the passions of your heart.
³ Say not: "Who can prevail against me?" for the LORD will exact the punishment.	³ And do not say, 'Who has authority over me?' for the Lord will certainly give you your deserts.
⁴ Say not: "I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?" for the LORD bides his time.	⁴ Do not say, 'I have sinned, but what harm has befal en me?' for the Lord's forbearance is long.
⁵ Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin.	⁵ Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin.
⁶ Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive."	⁶ And do not say, 'His compassion is great, he will forgive me my many sins'; for with him are both mercyand retribution, and his anger does not pass from sinners.
⁷ For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath.	⁷ Do not delay your return to the Lord, do not put it off day after day; for suddenly the Lord's wrath wilblaze out, and on the day of punishment you wil be utterly destroyed.
⁸ Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day;	⁸ Do not set your heart on il -gotten gains, they wil be of no use to you on the day of disaster.
⁹ For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed.	⁹ Do not winnow in every wind, or walk along every by-way (as the double-talking sinner does).
¹⁰ Rely not upon deceitful wealth, for it will be no help on the day of wrath.	¹⁰ Be steady in your convictions, and be a person of your word.
¹¹ Winnow not in every wind, and start not off in every direction.	¹¹ Be quick to listen, and deliberate in giving an answer.
¹² Be consistent in your thoughts; steadfast be your words.	¹² If you understand the matter, give your neighbour an answer, if not, keep your hand over your mouth.
¹³ Be swift to hear, but slow to answer.	¹³ Both honour and disgrace come from talking, the tongue is its owner's downfal .
¹⁴ If you have the knowledge, answer your neighbor; if not, put your hand over your mouth.	¹⁴ Do not get a name for scandal-mongering, do not set traps with your tongue; for as shame lies in storefor the thief, so harsh condemnation awaits the deceitful.
¹⁵ Honor and dishonor through talking! A man's tongue can be his downfall.	¹⁵ Avoid offences in great as in smal matters, and do not exchange friendship for enmity,
¹⁶ Be not called a detractor; use not your tongue for calumny;
¹⁷ For shame has been created for the thief, and the reproach of his neighbor for the double-tongued.