Sirach 22

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 An idler is like a stone covered in filth, everyone whistles at his disgrace.	1 The sluggard is like a stone in the mud; everyone hisses at his disgrace.
2 An idler is like a lump of dung, anyone picking it up shakes it off his hand.	2 The sluggard is like a lump of dung; whoever touches him wipes his hands.
3 It is a disgrace to have fathered a badly brought-up son, but the birth of any daughter is a loss;	3 An unruly child is a disgrace to its father; if it be a daughter she brings him to poverty.
4 a sensible daughter wil find a husband, but a shameless one is a grief to her father.	4 A thoughtful daughter becomes a treasure to her husband, a shameless one is her father's grief.
5 A brazen daughter puts father and mother to shame, and wil be disowned by both.	5 A hussy shames her father and her husband; by both she is despised.
6 An untimely remonstrance is like music at a funeral, but a thrashing and correction are wisdom at altimes.	6 Like a song in time of mourning is inopportune talk, but lashes and discipline are at all times wisdom.
7	7 Teaching a fool is like gluing a broken pot, or like disturbing a man in the depths of sleep;
8	8 He talks with a slumberer who talks with a fool, for when it is over, he will say, "What was that?"
9 Teaching a fool is like gluing bits of pottery together -- you are rousing someone who is besotted withsleep.	9 Weep over the dead man, for his light has gone out; weep over the fool, for sense has left him.
10 You might as wel talk to someone sound asleep; when you have finished the fool will say, 'What'sup?'	10 Weep but a little over the dead man, for he is at rest; but worse than death is the life of a fool.
11 Shed tears for the dead, who has left the light behind; shed tears for the fool, who has left his witsbehind. Shed quieter tears for the dead who is at rest, for the fool life is worse than death.	11 Seven days of mourning for the dead, but for the wicked fool a whole lifetime.
12 Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, for the foolish and ungodly al the days of their lives.	12 Speak but seldom with the stupid man, be not the companion of a brute;
13 Do not waste many words on the stupid, do not go near a dolt. Beware of him, or you wil have troubleand be soiled by contact with him; keep away from him, and you will have peace of mind and not be exasperatedby his fol y.	13 Beware of him lest you have trouble and be spattered when he shakes himself; Turn away from him and you will find rest and not be wearied by his lack of sense.
14 What is heavier than lead, and what is its name if not 'fool'?	14 What is heavier than lead, and what is its name but "Fool"?
15 Sand and salt and a lump of iron are a lighter burden than a dolt.	15 Sand and salt and an iron mass are easier to bear than a stupid man.
16 A tie-beam bonded into a building will not be dislodged by an earthquake; so too, a heart resolvedafter due reflection will not flinch at the critical moment.	16 Masonry bonded with wooden beams is not loosened by an earthquake; Neither is a resolve constructed with careful deliberation shaken in a moment of fear.
17 A heart founded on intel igent reflection is like a stucco decoration on a smooth wall.	17 A resolve that is backed by prudent understanding is like the polished surface of a smooth wall.
18 Pebbles placed on top of a wal wil not stand up to the wind; no more can the heart of a fool frightenedat his own thoughts stand up to fear.	18 Small stones lying on an open height will not remain when the wind blows; Neither can a timid resolve based on foolish plans withstand fear of any kind.
19 Prick an eye and you wil draw a tear, prick a heart and you reveal its feelings.	19 One who jabs the eye brings tears: he who pierces the heart bares its feelings.
20 Throw stones at birds and you scare them away, reproach a friend and you destroy a friendship.	20 He who throws stones at birds drives them away, and he who insults a friend breaks up the friendship.
21 If you have drawn your sword on a friend, do not despair; there is a way back.	21 Should you draw a sword against a friend, despair not, it can be undone.
22 If you have opened your mouth against your friend, do not worry; there is hope for reconciliation; butinsult, arrogance, betrayal of secrets, and the stab in the back -- in these cases any friend is lost.	22 Should you speak sharply to a friend, fear not, you can be reconciled. But a contemptuous insult, a confidence broken, or a treacherous attack will drive away any friend.
23 Win your neighbour's confidence when he is poor, so that you may enjoy his later good fortune withhim; stand by him in times of trouble, in order to have your share when he comes into a legacy.	23 Make fast friends with a man while he is poor; thus will you enjoy his prosperity with him. In time of trouble remain true to him, so as to share in his inheritance when it comes.
24 Fire is heralded by the reek of the furnace and smoke, so too, bloodshed by insults.	24 Before flames burst forth an oven smokes; so does abuse come before bloodshed.
25 I shal not be ashamed to shelter a friend nor shal I hide away from him,	25 From a friend in need of support no one need hide in shame;
26 and if evil comes to me through him, everyone who hears about it will beware of him.	26 But from him who brings harm to his friend all will stand aloof who hear of it.
27 Who wil set a guard on my mouth, and an efficient seal on my lips, to keep me from fal ing, and mytongue from causing my ruin?	27 Who will set a guard over my mouth, and upon my lips an effective seal, That I may not fail through them, that my tongue may not destroy me?