Sirach 5

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I am self-sufficient.'	1 Do not choose to seek iniquitous possessions, and you should not say: “I have all I need in life.” For it will be of no benefit to you in the time of retribution and darkness.
2 Do not be led by your appetites and energy to follow the passions of your heart.	2 You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart.
3 And do not say, 'Who has authority over me?' for the Lord will certainly give you your deserts.	3 And you should not say: “How powerful am I?” or, “Who will cast me down because of my deeds?” For God will vindicate with vengeance.
4 Do not say, 'I have sinned, but what harm has befal en me?' for the Lord's forbearance is long.	4 You should not say, “I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?” For the Most High is a patient recompensor.
5 Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin.	5 Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin.
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.	6 And you should not say: “The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins.”
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.	7 For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners.
8 Do not set your heart on il -gotten gains, they wil be of no use to you on the day of disaster.	8 You should not delay being converted to the Lord, and you should not set it aside from day to day.
9 Do not winnow in every wind, or walk along every by-way (as the double-talking sinner does).	9 For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you.
10 Be steady in your convictions, and be a person of your word.	10 Do not choose to be anxious for unjust wealth. For these things will not benefit you in the day of darkness and retribution.
11 Be quick to listen, and deliberate in giving an answer.	11 You should not winnow in every wind, and you should not go forth into every path. For so is every sinner proven by his duplicitous tongue.
12 If you understand the matter, give your neighbour an answer, if not, keep your hand over your mouth.	12 Be steadfast in the way of the Lord and in the truth of your understanding and knowledge, and let words of peace and justice overtake you.
13 Both honour and disgrace come from talking, the tongue is its owner's downfal .	13 Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom.
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.	14 If you understand, then answer your neighbor. But if you do not, then let your hand be over your mouth, so that you are not caught by an inept word, and then confounded.
15 Avoid offences in great as in smal matters, and do not exchange friendship for enmity,	15 Honor and glory are in the words of those who understand, yet truly, the tongue of the imprudent man is his undoing.
	16 You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded.
	17 For confusion and remorse is upon a thief, and a wicked mark is upon the double-tongued; but for the whisperer, there is hatred and animosity and disgrace.
	18 Justify the small and the great similarly.