Sirach 20

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 There is the rebuke that is untimely, and there is the person who keeps quiet, and he is the shrewd one.	1 How much better is it to reprove, than to become angry, so as not to hinder him who may confess in prayer.
2 But how much better to rebuke than to fume!	2 The lust of an eunuch will deflower a young maiden;
3 The person who acknowledges a fault wards off punishment.	3 similar is he who by violence gives an iniquitous judgment.
4 Like a eunuch trying to take a girl's virginity is someone who tries to impose justice by force.	4 How good it is, when you are corrected, to show contrition! For in this way, you will escape deliberate sin.
5 There is the person who keeps quiet and is considered wise, another incurs hatred for talking too much.	5 There is one who, by remaining silent, is found to be wise. And there is another who is hateful and who provokes by speaking out.
6 There is the person who keeps quiet, not knowing how to answer, another keeps quiet, knowing whento speak.	6 There is one who, not having the understanding to speak, remains silent. And there is another who remains silent, knowing the proper time.
7 The wise wil keep quiet til the right moment, but a garrulous fool wil always misjudge it.	7 A wise man will remain silent until the proper time. But an unrestrained and imprudent person will not heed the times.
8 Someone who talks too much wil earn dislike, and someone who usurps authority wil earn hatred.	8 Whoever uses many words will wound his own soul. And whoever unjustly takes authority upon himself will be hated.
9 There is the person who finds misfortune a boon, and the piece of luck that turns to loss.	9 There is advancement in evil for an undisciplined man, and there is a plan which turns to his detriment.
10 There is the gift that affords you no profit, and the gift that repays you double.	10 There is a gift which is not helpful, and there is a gift, the repayment for which is double.
11 There is the honour that leads to humiliation, and there are people in a low state who raise theirheads.	11 There is a loss for the sake of boasting, and there is one who will lift up his head from lowliness.
12 There is the person who buys much for little, yet pays for it seven times over.	12 There is one who buys much for a small price, and who pays it back sevenfold.
13 The wise wins love with words, while fools may shower favours in vain.	13 Anyone wise in words makes himself loved. But the graces of the foolish will be poured away.
14 The gift of the stupid wil bring you no advantage, his eyes look for seven times as much in return.	14 A gift from the unwise will not benefit you. For his gaze is divided, sevenfold.
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 He will give little, and reproach much. And the opening of his mouth is like a burning flame.
16 The fool will say, 'I have no friends, I get no gratitude for my good deeds;	16 There is one who lends today and demands repayment tomorrow. A man such as this is hateful.
17 those who eat my bread have malicious tongues.' How often he wil be laughed at, and by how many!	17 A foolish man will not have a friend, and there will be no thanks for his good deeds.
18 Better a slip on the pavement than a slip of the tongue; this is how ruin takes the wicked by surprise.	18 For those who eat his bread have a false tongue. How often and how many are those who will ridicule him!
19 A coarse-grained person is like an indiscreet story endlessly retold by the ignorant.	19 For what he possesses, he does not distribute with correct understanding. And he acts similarly with what he does not possess.
20 A maxim is rejected when coming from a fool, since the fool does not utter it on the apt occasion.	20 The slip of a false tongue is like someone who falls upon pavement. Such a fall for the wicked will arrive quickly.
21 There is a person who is prevented from sinning by poverty; no qualms of conscience disturb thatperson's rest.	21 A disagreeable man is like a pointless fable; it will be continually in the mouth of the undisciplined.
22 There is a person who courts destruction out of false shame, courts destruction for the sake of a fool'sopinion.	22 A parable from the mouth of a fool will be rejected. For he does not speak it at the proper time.
23 There is a person who out of false shame makes promises to a friend, and so makes an enemy fornothing.	23 There is one who is prevented from sinning by poverty, and in his rest, he will be vexed.
24 Lying is an ugly blot on anyone, and ever on the lips of the undisciplined.	24 There is one who will lose his own soul because of pretense, and he will lose it by an example of imprudence. For by seeking the approval of another, he will destroy himself.
25 A thief is preferable to an inveterate liar, but both are heading for ruin.	25 There is one who, for the sake of what other’s think, makes a promise to a friend, and so he gains him as an enemy for no reason.
26 Lying is an abominable habit, the liar's disgrace lasts for ever.	26 A lie is a wicked disgrace to a man, and yet lies will be continually in the mouths of those without discipline.
27 The wise gains advancement by words, the shrewd wins favour from the great.	27 A thief is better than a man who constantly lies. But both of them will inherit perdition.
28 Whoever til s the soil wil have a full harvest, whoever wins favour from the great wil secure pardon foroffences.	28 The habits of lying men are without honor. And their shame is with them without ceasing.
29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise and stifle rebukes like a muzzle on the mouth.	29 A wise man will benefit himself by his own words, and a prudent man will please the powerful.
30 Wisdom concealed, and treasure undiscovered, what use is either of these?	30 Whoever works his land will raise high a stockpile of grain. And whoever works justice will himself be raised high. Yet truly, whoever pleases the powerful will escape unfair treatment.
31 Better one who conceals his fol y than one who conceals his wisdom.	31 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and silence their mouths, turning them aside from their task of correction.
	32 Wisdom hidden, and treasure unseen: of what use is either of these?
	33 He who hides his foolishness is better than a man who conceals his wisdom.