Sirach 22
1 A slothful man is compared to a
filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.
2 A slothful man is compared to the
filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.
3 An evil-nurtured son is the
dishonour of his father that begat him: and a [foolish] daughter is born to
his loss. 4 A wise daughter shall
bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her
father's heaviness. 5 She that is bold
dishonoureth both her father and her husband, and they both shall despise her.
6 A tale out of season [is as] music
in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
9 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that
glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.
10 He that telleth a tale to a fool
speaketh to one in a slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is
the matter? 11 Weep for the dead, for
he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding:
make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool
is worse than death. 12 Seven days do
men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days
of his life.
13 Talk not much with a fool, and go
not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble,
and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou
shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.
14 What is heavier than lead? and
what is the name thereof, but a fool?
15 Sand, and salt, and a mass of
iron, are easier to bear, than a man without understanding.
16 As timber girt and bound together
in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished
by advised counsel shall fear at no time.
17 A heart settled upon a thought of
understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.
18 Pales set on an high place will
never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool
cannot stand against any fear.
19 He that pricketh the eye will make
tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.
20 Whoso casteth a stone at the birds
frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.
21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy
friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning [to favour].
22 If thou hast opened thy mouth
against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a reconciliation: except for
upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for
for these things every friend will depart.
23 Be faithful to thy neighbour in
his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide steadfast unto
him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his
heritage. 24 As the vapour and smoke
of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.
25 I will not be ashamed to defend a
friend; neither will I hide myself from him;
26 and if any evil happen unto me by
him, every one that heareth it will beware of him.
27 Who shall set a watch before my
mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them,
and that my tongue destroy me not?