Sirach 20

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 There is the rebuke that is untimely, and there is the person who keeps quiet, and he is the shrewd one.	1 An admonition can be inopportune, and a man may be wise to hold his peace.
2 But how much better to rebuke than to fume!	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 The person who acknowledges a fault wards off punishment.	3 Like a eunuch lusting for intimacy with a maiden is he who does right under compulsion.
4 Like a eunuch trying to take a girl's virginity is someone who tries to impose justice by force.	4 One man is silent and is thought wise, another is talkative and is disliked.
5 There is the person who keeps quiet and is considered wise, another incurs hatred for talking too much.	5 One man is silent because he has nothing to say; another is silent, biding his time.
6 There is the person who keeps quiet, not knowing how to answer, another keeps quiet, knowing whento speak.	6 A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time.
7 The wise wil keep quiet til the right moment, but a garrulous fool wil always misjudge it.	7 He who talks too much is detested; he who pretends to authority is hated.
8 Someone who talks too much wil earn dislike, and someone who usurps authority wil earn hatred.	8 Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss.
9 There is the person who finds misfortune a boon, and the piece of luck that turns to loss.	9 Some gifts do one no good, and some must be paid back double.
10 There is the gift that affords you no profit, and the gift that repays you double.	10 Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can lift up his head.
11 There is the honour that leads to humiliation, and there are people in a low state who raise theirheads.	11 A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over.
12 There is the person who buys much for little, yet pays 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 The wise wins love with words, while fools may shower favours 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 The gift of the stupid wil bring you no advantage, his eyes look for seven times as much in return.	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 He gives little and reviles much, he opens his mouth like the town crier, he lends today and demandspayment tomorrow; he is a detestable fellow.	15 A fool has no friends, nor thanks for his generosity;
16 The fool will say, 'I have no friends, I get no gratitude for my good deeds;	16 Those who eat his bread have an evil tongue. How many times they laugh him to scorn!
17 those who eat my bread have malicious tongues.' How often he wil be laughed at, and by how many!	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 Better a slip on the pavement than a slip of the tongue; this is how ruin takes the wicked by surprise.	18 Insipid food is the untimely tale; the unruly are always ready to offer it.
19 A coarse-grained person is like an indiscreet story endlessly retold by the ignorant.	19 A proverb when spoken by a fool is unwelcome, for he does not utter it at the proper time.
20 A maxim is rejected when coming from a fool, since the fool does not utter it on the apt occasion.	20 A man through want may be unable to sin, yet in this tranquility he cannot rest.
21 There is a person who is prevented from sinning by poverty; no qualms of conscience disturb thatperson's rest.	21 One may lose his life through shame, and perish through a fool's intimidation.
22 There is a person who courts destruction out of false shame, courts destruction for the sake of a fool'sopinion.	22 A man makes a promise to a friend out of shame, and has him for his enemy needlessly.
23 There is a person who out of false shame makes promises to a friend, and so makes an enemy fornothing.	23 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is constantly on the lips of the unruly.
24 Lying is an ugly blot on anyone, and ever on the lips of the undisciplined.	24 Better a thief than an inveterate liar, yet both will suffer disgrace;
25 A thief is preferable to an inveterate liar, but both are heading for ruin.	25 A liar's way leads to dishonor, his shame remains ever with him.
26 Lying is an abominable habit, the liar's disgrace lasts for ever.	26 A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases the great.
27 The wise gains advancement by words, the shrewd wins favour from the great.	27 He who works his land has abundant crops, he who pleases the great is pardoned his faults.
28 Whoever til s the soil wil have a full harvest, whoever wins favour from the great wil secure pardon foroffences.	28 Favors and gifts blind the eyes; like a muzzle over the mouth they silence reproof.
29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise and stifle rebukes like a muzzle on the mouth.	29 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure-- of what value is either?
30 Wisdom concealed, and treasure undiscovered, what use is either of these?	30 Better the man who hides his folly than the one who hides his wisdom.
31 Better one who conceals his fol y than one who conceals his wisdom.