Sirach 22

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 An idler is like a stone covered in filth, everyone whistles at his disgrace.	1 The lazy man is pelted with a dirty stone, and all will speak about his rejection.
2 An idler is like a lump of dung, anyone picking it up shakes it off his hand.	2 The lazy man is pelted with the dung of oxen, and all who touch him will brush off their 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 undisciplined son is the shame of his father, but an undisciplined daughter will be to his degradation.
4 a sensible daughter wil find a husband, but a shameless one is a grief to her father.	4 A prudent daughter brings an inheritance to her husband. But she who causes shame will be a disgrace to him who conceived her.
5 A brazen daughter puts father and mother to shame, and wil be disowned by both.	5 She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and she will not be less offensive to the impious. For she will be held in dishonor by both.
6 An untimely remonstrance is like music at a funeral, but a thrashing and correction are wisdom at altimes.	6 An untimely explanation is like music in a time of mourning. But the sharp correction and doctrine of wisdom are ever timely.
7	7 Whoever teaches the foolish is like someone who glues together a broken pot.
8	8 Whoever explains a word to one who is not listening is like someone who suddenly awakens a sleeping person from a deep sleep.
9 Teaching a fool is like gluing bits of pottery together -- you are rousing someone who is besotted withsleep.	9 Whoever explains wisdom to the senseless is like one speaking to a sleeping person. And at the end of the explanation, he says: “Who is this?”
10 You might as wel talk to someone sound asleep; when you have finished the fool will say, 'What'sup?'	10 Weep over the dead, for his light has failed. And weep over the foolish, for his understanding has failed.
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 Weep only a little over the dead, for he is at rest.
12 Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, for the foolish and ungodly al the days of their lives.	12 But the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.
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 The mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the foolish and the impious, it is all the days of their life.
14 What is heavier than lead, and what is its name if not 'fool'?	14 You should not talk at length with the foolish, and you should not go with the senseless.
15 Sand and salt and a lump of iron are a lighter burden than a dolt.	15 Keep yourself from him, so that you may not have problems, and so that you will not be polluted by his sin.
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 Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you will not be discouraged by his foolishness.
17 A heart founded on intel igent reflection is like a stucco decoration on a smooth wall.	17 What is heavier than lead? And what else can he be called but foolish?
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 Sand, and salt, and an iron weight are each easier to bear than an imprudent man, who is both foolish and impious.
19 Prick an eye and you wil draw a tear, prick a heart and you reveal its feelings.	19 A bundle of wood strapped together in the foundation of a building will not be loosened. And similar is the heart that has been strengthened by thoughtful counsel.
20 Throw stones at birds and you scare them away, reproach a friend and you destroy a friendship.	20 The thoughts of one who is understanding will not be corrupted by fear in any situation.
21 If you have drawn your sword on a friend, do not despair; there is a way back.	21 Just as chaff in a high place, or a wall made of mortar without stones set within, will not continue against the face of the wind,
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 so also a timid heart, and the thoughts of the senseless, will not withstand the forcefulness of fear.
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 Despite a cowardly heart, the thoughts of the foolish will not fear any situation; yet neither will one who continues always in the precepts of God.
24 Fire is heralded by the reek of the furnace and smoke, so too, bloodshed by insults.	24 He who jabs an eye produces tears. And he who jabs the heart produces understanding.
25 I shal not be ashamed to shelter a friend nor shal I hide away from him,	25 He who throws a stone at birds will drive them away. So also, he who accuses his friend dissolves the friendship.
26 and if evil comes to me through him, everyone who hears about it will beware of him.	26 But if you have drawn a sword against a friend, you should not despair; for there may be a way back.
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 If you have opened a harsh mouth against a friend, you should not fear; for there may be a reconciliation. However, if there are accusations, or abuse, or arrogance, or the revealing of secrets, or a wound from deceitfulness, in all these cases, a friend will flee away.
	28 Hold to faithfulness with a friend in his poverty, so that you may also rejoice in his prosperity.
	29 In the time of his tribulation, remain faithful to him, so that you may also be an heir with him in his inheritance.
	30 Just as the steam from an oven, or the smoke from a fire, rises up before a flame, so also do curses and insults and threats rise up before bloodshed.
	31 I shall not be ashamed to greet a friend, nor shall I hide myself from his face. And if misfortunes befall me because of him, I will endure.
	32 Anyone who hears of this will be wary around him.
	33 Who will provide a keeper for my mouth, and a reliable seal over my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and so that my tongue does not destroy me?