Catholic Evangelization Training Center
Training in the NEW Evangelization
Sirach Chapter 19-22
1 A workman who is a drunkard will not become rich; he who despises small things will fail little by little.
2 Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, and the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless.
3 Decay and worms will inherit him, and the reckless soul will be snatched away.
4 One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded, and one who sins does wrong to himself.
5 One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,
6 and for one who hates gossip evil is lessened.
7 Never repeat a conversation, and you will lose nothing at all.
8 With friend or foe do not report it, and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it;
9 for some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you.
10 Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Be brave! It will not make you burst!
11 With such a word a fool will suffer pangs like a woman in labor with a child.
12 Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word inside a fool.
13 Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more.
14 Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again.
15 Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.
16 A person may make a slip without intending it. Who has never sinned with his tongue?
17 Question your neighbor before you threaten him; and let the law of the Most High take its course.
20 All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.
22 But the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence where sinners take counsel.
23 There is a cleverness which is abominable, but there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.
24 Better is the God-fearing man who lacks intelligence, than the highly prudent man who transgresses the law.
25 There is a cleverness which is scrupulous but unjust, and there are people who distort kindness to gain a verdict.
26 There is a rascal bowed down in mourning, but inwardly he is full of deceit.
27 He hides his face and pretends not to hear; but where no one notices, he will forestall you.
28 And if by lack of strength he is prevented from sinning, he will do evil when he finds an opportunity.
29 A man is known by his appearance, and a sensible man is known by his face, when you meet him.
30 A man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, and a man's manner of walking, show what he is.
Chapter: 20
1 There is a reproof which is not timely; and there is a man who keeps silent but is wise.
2 How much better it is to reprove than to stay angry! And the one who confesses his fault will be kept from loss.
4 Like a eunuch's desire to violate a maiden is a man who executes judgments by violence.
5 There is one who by keeping silent is found wise, while another is detested for being too talkative.
6 There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak.
7 A wise man will be silent until the right moment, but a braggart and fool goes beyond the right moment.
8 Whoever uses too many words will be loathed, and whoever usurps the right to speak will be hated.
9 There may be good fortune for a man in adversity, and a windfall may result in a loss.
10 There is a gift that profits you nothing, and there is a gift that brings a double return.
11 There are losses because of glory, and there are men who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
12 There is a man who buys much for a little, but pays for it seven times over.
13 The wise man makes himself beloved through his words, but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
14 A fool's gift will profit you nothing, for he has many eyes instead of one.
15 He gives little and upbraids much, he opens his mouth like a herald; today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back; such a one is a hateful man.
16 A fool will say, "I have no friend, and there is no gratitude for my good deeds; those who eat my bread speak unkindly."
17 How many will ridicule him, and how often!
18 A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue; so the downfall of the wicked will occur speedily.
19 An ungracious man is like a story told at the wrong time, which is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
20 A proverb from a fool's lips will be rejected, for he does not tell it at its proper time.
21 A man may be prevented from sinning by his poverty, so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22 A man may lose his life through shame, or lose it because of his foolish look.
23 A man may for shame make promises to a friend, and needlessly make him an enemy.
24 A lie is an ugly blot on a man; it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
25 A thief is preferable to a habitual liar, but the lot of both is ruin.
26 The disposition of a liar brings disgrace, and his shame is ever with him.
27 He who speaks wisely will advance himself, and a sensible man will please great men.
28 Whoever cultivates the soil will heap up his harvest, and whoever pleases great men will atone for injustice.
29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise; like a muzzle on the mouth they avert reproofs.
30 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, what advantage is there in either of them?
31 Better is the man who hides his folly than the man who hides his wisdom.
Chapter: 21
1 Have you sinned, my son? Do so no more, but pray about your former sins.
2 Flee from sin as from a snake; for if you approach sin, it will bite you. Its teeth are lion's teeth, and destroy the souls of men.
3 All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword; there is no healing for its wound.
4 Terror and violence will lay waste riches; thus the house of the proud will be laid waste.
5 The prayer of a poor man goes from his lips to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily.
6 Whoever hates reproof walks in the steps of the sinner, but he that fears the Lord will repent in his heart.
7 He who is mighty in speech is known from afar; but the sensible man, when he slips, is aware of it.
8 A man who builds his house with other people's money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.
9 An assembly of the wicked is like tow gathered together, and their end is a flame of fire.
10 The way of sinners is smoothly paved with stones, but at its end is the pit of Hades.
11 Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts, and wisdom is the fulfilment of the fear of the Lord.
12 He who is not clever cannot be taught, but there is a cleverness which increases bitterness.
13 The knowledge of a wise man will increase like a flood, and his counsel like a flowing spring.
14 The mind of a fool is like a broken jar; it will hold no knowledge.
15 When a man of understanding hears a wise saying, he will praise it and add to it; when a reveler hears it, he dislikes it and casts it behind his back.
16 A fool's narration is like a burden on a journey, but delight will be found in the speech of the intelligent.
17 The utterance of a sensible man will be sought in the assembly, and they will ponder his words in their minds.
18 Like a house that has vanished, so is wisdom to a fool; and the knowledge of the ignorant is unexamined talk.
19 To a senseless man education is fetters on his feet, and like manacles on his right hand.
20 A fool raises his voice when he laughs, but a clever man smiles quietly.
21 To a sensible man education is like a golden ornament, and like a bracelet on the right arm.
22 The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience stands respectfully before it.
23 A boor peers into the house from the door, but a cultivated man remains outside.
24 It is ill-mannered for a man to listen at a door, and a discreet man is grieved by the disgrace.
25 The lips of strangers will speak of these things, but the words of the prudent will be weighed in the balance.
26 The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is in their mind.
27 When an ungodly man curses his adversary, he curses his own soul.
28 A whisperer defiles his own soul and is hated in his neighborhood.
Chapter: 22
1 The indolent may be compared to a filthy stone, and every one hisses at his disgrace.
2 The indolent may be compared to the filth of dunghills; any one that picks it up will shake it off his hand.
3 It is a disgrace to be the father of an undisciplined son, and the birth of a daughter is a loss.
4 A sensible daughter obtains her husband, but one who acts shamefully brings grief to her father.
5 An impudent daughter disgraces father and husband, and will be despised by both.
6 Like music in mourning is a tale told at the wrong time, but chastising and discipline are wisdom at all times.
7 He who teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together, or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.
8 He who tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man; and at the end he will say, "What is it?"
11 Weep for the dead, for he lacks the light; and weep for the fool, for he lacks intelligence; weep less bitterly for the dead, for he has attained rest; but the life of the fool is worse than death.
12 Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but for a fool or an ungodly man it lasts all his life.
13 Do not talk much with a foolish man, and do not visit an unintelligent man; guard yourself from him to escape trouble, and you will not be soiled when he shakes himself off; avoid him and you will find rest, and you will never be wearied by his madness.
14 What is heavier than lead? And what is its name except "Fool"?
15 Sand, salt, and a piece of iron are easier to bear than a stupid man.
16 A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building will not be torn loose by an earthquake; so the mind firmly fixed on a reasonable counsel will not be afraid in a crisis.
17 A mind settled on an intelligent thought is like the stucco decoration on the wall of a colonnade.
18 Fences set on a high place will not stand firm against the wind; so a timid heart with a fool's purpose will not stand firm against any fear.
19 A man who pricks an eye will make tears fall, and one who pricks the heart makes it show feeling.
20 One who throws a stone at birds scares them away, and one who reviles a friend will break off the friendship.
21 Even if you have drawn your sword against a friend, do not despair, for a renewal of friendship is possible.
22 If you have opened your mouth against your friend, do not worry, for reconciliation is possible; but as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow -- in these cases any friend will flee.
23 Gain the trust of your neighbor in his poverty, that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity; stand by him in time of affliction, that you may share with him in his inheritance.
24 The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede the fire; so insults precede bloodshed.
25 I will not be ashamed to protect a friend, and I will not hide from him;
26 but if some harm should happen to me because of him, whoever hears of it will beware of him.
27 O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from falling, so that my tongue may not destroy me!