Sirach 23

23O that one would set scourges over my mind,

And a rod of correction over my heart,

That they spare not their errors,

And overlook not their sins!

That mine ignorances be not multiplied,

And that my sins abound not,

And cause me to fall in the sight of miṇe adversaries,

So that mine enemy rejoice over me.

O Lord, Father, and God of my life,

Abandon me not to their counsel.

Give me nota proud look,

And turn away concupiscence from me.

May the lust of the fleshand chamberingnot overtake me,

And give me not over to a shameless soul.

Hear, O children, ⁽concerning⁽ the discipline of the mouth:

He that keepeth ⁽discipline⁽shall not be taken ^[captive^[

But the sinner is ensnared through his lips,

And the fool stumbleth through his mouth.

Accustom not thy mouth to an oath,

Nor make a habit of the naming of the Holy One.

For as a servant who is constantly being questioned

Lacketh not the marks of a blow,

So also he that sweareth and is continually naming the name of the Lord

Is not free from sins.

A man of many oaths is filled with iniquity,

And the scourge departeth not from his house;

If he offend his sin will be upon him,

And if he disregard it he sinneth doubly;

And if he sweareth without need, he shall not be justified,

For his house shall be filled with calamities.

There is a manner of speech that is to be compared with death:

Let it not be found in the heritage of Jacob.

He that keepeth his soul from this shall live,

And not wallow in sins.

Remember thy father and thy mother

When thou sittest in council in the midst of tḥe mighty,

Lest, perchance, thou stumble before them,

^[In that^[ thou showest thyself ^[to be^[ a fool in thy manner ^[of speech^[,

And dost wish thou hadst not been born,

And cursest the day of thy birth.

Accustom not thy mouth to impure manner ^[of speech^[,

For that is a sinful thing.

A man that doth accustom himself to disgraceful talk

Will not learn wisdom all his days.

Two types ⁽of men⁽ multiply sins,

And the third increaseth wrath;

A hot desire, burning like fire,

Which is not quenched till it be consumed;

A fornicator with the body of his flesh,

⁽For⁽ he ceaseth not till the fire consumeth him;

^[And^[ the man to whom all bread is sweet,

⁽For⁽ he will not leave off till he die.

A man that goeth astrayfrom his own bed,

And saith in his heart: ‘Who seeth me?

The walls of my house hide me,

And the shadow of my roof covereth me,

And no one seeth me—

What hindereth me from sinning?’

He remembereth not the Most High;

The eyes of men are his ⁽only⁽ fear,

—And he perceiveth not that the eyes of the Lord

Are ten thousand times brighter than the sun,

Beholding all the ways of men,

And looking into secret places;

For all things are known unto Him before they are created,

So also ^[doth He see them^[ after they are perfected,—

Such a man shall be punished in the streets of the city,

And shall be taken where he suspecteth it not.

So also a wife that leaveth her husband,

And bringeth in an heir by a stranger.

For, firstly, she is disobedient to the Law of the Most High;

And secondly, she trespasseth against her own husband;

And thirdly, she committeth adultery through ⁽her⁽ fornication,

And bringeth children in by a stranger.

She shall be led into the assembly,

And upon her children there will be visitation.

Her children shall not spread out their roots,

And her branches shall bear no fruit.

She will leave her memory for a curse,

And her reproach will not be blotted out.

And they that are left behind shall know

That there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord,

And nothing sweeter than to observe

The commandments of the Lord.