Sirach 19

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A workman who is a drunkard will not become rich; he who despises small things will fail little by little.	1 He who does so grows no richer; he who wastes the little he has will be stripped bare.
2 Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, and the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless.	2 Wine and women make the mind giddy, and the companion of harlots becomes reckless.
3 Decay and worms will inherit him, and the reckless soul will be snatched away.	3 Rottenness and worms will possess him, for contumacious desire destroys its owner.
4 One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded, and one who sins does wrong to himself.	4 He who lightly trusts in them has no sense, and he who strays after them sins against his own life.
5 One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,	5 He who gloats over evil will meet with evil, and he who repeats an evil report has no sense.
6 and for one who hates gossip evil is lessened.	6 Never repeat gossip, and you will not be reviled.
7 Never repeat a conversation, and you will lose nothing at all.	7 Tell nothing to friend or foe; if you have a fault, reveal it not,
8 With friend or foe do not report it, and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it;	8 For he who hears it will hold it against you, and in time become your enemy.
9 for some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you.	9 Let anything you hear die within you; be assured it will not make you burst.
10 Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Be brave! It will not make you burst!	10 When a fool hears something, he is in labor, like a woman giving birth to a child.
11 With such a word a fool will suffer pangs like a woman in labor with a child.	11 Like an arrow lodged in a man's thigh is gossip in the breast of a fool.
12 Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word inside a fool.	12 Admonish your friend--he may not have done it; and if he did, that he may not do it again.
13 Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more.	13 Admonish your neighbor--he may not have said it; and if he did, that he may not say it again.
14 Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again.	14 Admonish your friend--often it may be slander; every story you must not believe.
15 Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.	15 Then, too, a man can slip and not mean it; who has not sinned with his tongue?
16 A person may make a slip without intending it. Who has never sinned with his tongue?	16 Admonish your neighbor before you break with him; thus will you fulfill the law of the Most High.
17 Question your neighbor before you threaten him; and let the law of the Most High take its course.	17 All wisdom is fear of the LORD; perfect wisdom is the fulfillment of the law.
18 .	18 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.
19 .	19 There is a shrewdness that is detestable, while the simple man may be free from sin.
20 All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.	20 There are those with little understanding who fear God, and those of great intelligence who violate the law.
21 .	21 There is a shrewdness keen but dishonest, which by duplicity wins a judgment.
22 But the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence where sinners take counsel.	22 There is the wicked man who is bowed in grief, but is full of guile within;
23 There is a cleverness which is abominable, but there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.	23 He bows his head and feigns not to hear, but when not observed, he will take advantage of you:
24 Better is the God-fearing man who lacks intelligence, than the highly prudent man who transgresses the law.	24 Even though his lack of strength keeps him from sinning, when he finds the opportunity, he will do harm.
25 There is a cleverness which is scrupulous but unjust, and there are people who distort kindness to gain a verdict.	25 One can tell a man by his appearance; a wise man is known as such when first met.
26 There is a rascal bowed down in mourning, but inwardly he is full of deceit.	26 A man's attire, his hearty laughter and his gait, proclaim him for what he is.
27 He hides his face and pretends not to hear; but where no one notices, he will forestall you.
28 And if by lack of strength he is prevented from sinning, he will do evil when he finds an opportunity.
29 A man is known by his appearance, and a sensible man is known by his face, when you meet him.
30 A man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, and a man's manner of walking, show what he is.