Sirach 20

^aThere is a reproof that is not comely:

Again, ^esome man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise.

²It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly:

And ^bhe that confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt.

³How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance!

For so shalt thou escape ^cwilful sin.

⁴As is ^dthe lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin;

So is he that executeth judgment with violence.

^5eThere is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise:

And another by much babbling becometh hateful.

⁶Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer:

And some keepeth silence, ^fknowing his time.

^7gA wise man will hold his tongue ^ftill he see opportunity:

But a babbler and a fool will regard no time.

⁸He that useth many words shall be abhorred;

And he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.

⁹There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things;

And ^hthere is a ⁱgain that turneth to loss.

¹⁰There is a gift that shall not profit thee;

And there is a gift whose recompence is double.

^11kThere is an abasement because of glory;

And there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate.

¹²There is that buyeth much for a little,

And repayeth it ^lsevenfold.

^13mA wise man by his words maketh himself beloved:

But the ⁿgraces of fools shall be poured out.

¹⁴The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it;

Neither yet of the envious ^ofor his necessity:

For he looketh to receive many things for one.

¹⁵He giveth little, and ^pupbraideth much;

^qHe openeth his mouth like a crier;

To day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it again:

Such a one is to be hated of God and man.

¹⁶The fool saith, I have no friends,

I have no thank for all my good deeds,

And ^rthey that eat my bread speak evil of me.

¹⁷How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn!

For he knoweth not aright what it is to have;

And it is ^rrall one unto him as if he had it not.

¹⁸To slip upon a pavement is better than ^sto slip with the tongue:

So the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

^19tAn unseasonable tale

Will always be in the mouth of the unwise.

^20uA wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool’s mouth;

For ^ahe will not speak it in due season.

²¹There is that is hindered from sinning through want:

And when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.

^22vThere is that destroyeth his own soul through ^vbashfulness,

And by ^vwaccepting of persons overthroweth himself.

²³There is that for ^vbashfulness promiseth to his friend,

And maketh him his enemy for nothing.

^24xA lie is a foul blot in a man,

Yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.

^25yA thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie:

But they both shall have destruction to heritage.

²⁶The disposition of a liar is dishonourable,

And his shame is ever with him.

²⁷A wise man shall promote himself to honour with his words:

And he that hath understanding will please great men.

^28zHe that tilleth his land shall increase his heap:

And he that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.

^29aPresents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise,

And stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove.

^30bWisdom that is hid, and ^ctreasure that is hoarded up,

What profit is in them both?

^31dBetter is he that hideth his folly

^bdThan a man that hideth his wisdom.

³²Necessary patience in seeking the Lord is better

Than he that leadeth his life without a guide.

XXI.