Sirach 19

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A labouring man that A is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.	1 He who does so grows no richer; he who wastes the little he has will be stripped bare.
2 Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.	2 Wine and women make the mind giddy, and the companion of harlots becomes reckless.
3 Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.	3 Rottenness and worms will possess him, for contumacious desire destroys its owner.
4 He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.	4 He who lightly trusts in them has no sense, and he who strays after them sins against his own life.
5 Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.	5 He who gloats over evil will meet with evil, and he who repeats an evil report has no sense.
6 He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.	6 Never repeat gossip, and you will not be reviled.
7 Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.	7 Tell nothing to friend or foe; if you have a fault, reveal it not,
8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.	8 For he who hears it will hold it against you, and in time become your enemy.
9 For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.	9 Let anything you hear die within you; be assured it will not make you burst.
10 If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.	10 When a fool hears something, he is in labor, like a woman giving birth to a child.
11 A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.	11 Like an arrow lodged in a man's thigh is gossip in the breast of a fool.
12 As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.	12 Admonish your friend--he may not have done it; and if he did, that he may not do it again.
13 Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he 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 Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.	14 Admonish your friend--often it may be slander; every story you must not believe.
15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.	15 Then, too, a man can slip and not mean it; who has not sinned with his tongue?
16 There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?	16 Admonish your neighbor before you break with him; thus will you fulfill the law of the Most High.
17 Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.	17 All wisdom is fear of the LORD; perfect wisdom is the fulfillment of the law.
18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtaineth his love.	18 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.
19 The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.	19 There is a shrewdness that is detestable, while the simple man may be free from sin.
20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.	20 There are those with little understanding who fear God, and those of great intelligence who violate the law.
21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.	21 There is a shrewdness keen but dishonest, which by duplicity wins a judgment.
22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.	22 There is the wicked man who is bowed in grief, but is full of guile within;
23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.	23 He bows his head and feigns not to hear, but when not observed, he will take advantage of you:
24 He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.	24 Even though his lack of strength keeps him from sinning, when he finds the opportunity, he will do harm.
25 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment.	25 One can tell a man by his appearance; a wise man is known as such when first met.
26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; 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 Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.
28 And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.
29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.
30 A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.