Sirach 5

Precepts for Everyday Living

⁵Do not rely on your wealth

or say, “I have enough.”^*

²Do not follow your inclination and strength

in pursuing the desires of your heart.^*

³Do not say, “Who can have power over me?”

for the Lord will surely punish you.^*

⁴Do not say, “I sinned, yet what has happened to me?”

for the Lord is slow to anger.^*

⁵Do not be so confident of forgiveness^e

that you add sin to sins.^*

⁶Do not say, “His mercy is great;

he will forgive^f the multitude of my sins,”

for both mercy and wrath are with him,

and his anger will rest on sinners.^*

⁷Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,

and do not postpone it from day to day,

for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come forth,

and at the time of punishment you will perish.^*

⁸Do not rely on dishonest wealth,

for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.^*

⁹Do not winnow in every wind

or follow every path.^g

¹⁰Stand firm in what you know,

and let your speech be consistent.

¹¹Be quick to hear,

and utter a reply patiently.^*

¹²If you understand, answer your neighbor,

but if not, put your hand over your mouth.^*

¹³Honor and dishonor come from speaking,

and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.^*

¹⁴Do not be called double-tongued^h

and do not lay traps with your tongue,

for shame comes to the thief

and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.^*

¹⁵In great and small matters cause no harm,ⁱ