Catholic Evangelization Training Center
Training in the NEW Evangelization
Sirach Chapter 26-29
1 Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2 A loyal wife rejoices her husband, and he will complete his years in peace.
3 A good wife is a great blessing; she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
4 Whether rich or poor, his heart is glad, and at all times his face is cheerful.
5 Of three things my heart is afraid, and of a fourth I am frightened: The slander of a city, the gathering of a mob, and false accusation -- all these are worse than death.
6 There is grief of heart and sorrow when a wife is envious of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7 An evil wife is an ox yoke which chafes; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8 There is great anger when a wife is drunken; she will not hide her shame.
9 A wife's harlotry shows in her lustful eyes, and she is known by her eyelids.
10 Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, lest, when she finds liberty, she use it to her hurt.
11 Be on guard against her impudent eye, and do not wonder if she sins against you.
12 As a thirsty wayfarer opens his mouth and drinks from any water near him, so will she sit in front of every post and open her quiver to the arrow.
13 A wife's charm delights her husband, and her skill puts fat on his bones.
14 A silent wife is a gift of the Lord, and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul.
15 A modest wife adds charm to charm, and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul.
16 Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17 Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand, so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18 Like pillars of gold on a base of silver, so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart.
28 At two things my heart is grieved, and because of a third anger comes over me: a warrior in want through poverty, and intelligent men who are treated contemptuously; a man who turns back from righteousness to sin -- the Lord will prepare him for the sword!
29 A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing, and a tradesman will not be declared innocent of sin.
Chapter: 27
1 Many have committed sin for a trifle, and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes.
2 As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3 If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.
4 When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man's filth remains in his thoughts.
5 The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a man is in his reasoning.
6 The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind.
7 Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men.
8 If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it as a glorious robe.
9 Birds flock with their kind; so truth returns to those who practice it.
10 A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for the workers of iniquity.
11 The talk of the godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12 Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.
13 The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14 The talk of men given to swearing makes one's hair stand on end, and their quarrels make a man stop his ears.
15 The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, and their abuse is grievous to hear.
16 Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and he will never find a congenial friend.
17 Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him.
18 For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19 And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.
20 Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21 For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
22 Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds, and no one can keep him from them.
23 In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will give offense.
24 I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him; even the Lord will hate him.
25 Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head; and a treacherous blow opens up wounds.
26 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who sets a snare will be caught in it.
27 If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.
28 Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man, but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion.
29 Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death.
30 Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them.
Chapter: 28
1 He that takes vengeance will suffer vengeance from the Lord, and he will firmly establish his sins.
2 Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3 Does a man harbor anger against another, and yet seek for healing from the Lord?
4 Does he have no mercy toward a man like himself, and yet pray for his own sins?
5 If he himself, being flesh, maintains wrath, who will make expiation for his sins?
6 Remember the end of your life, and cease from enmity, remember destruction and death, and be true to the commandments.
7 Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook ignorance.
8 Refrain from strife, and you will lessen sins; for a man given to anger will kindle strife,
9 and a sinful man will disturb friends and inject enmity among those who are at peace.
10 In proportion to the fuel for the fire, so will be the burning, and in proportion to the obstinacy of strife will be the burning; in proportion to the strength of the man will be his anger, and in proportion to his wealth he will heighten his wrath.
11 A hasty quarrel kindles fire, and urgent strife sheds blood.
12 If you blow on a spark, it will glow; if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth.
13 Curse the whisperer and deceiver, for he has destroyed many who were at peace.
14 Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation, and destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of great men.
15 Slander has driven away courageous women, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16 Whoever pays heed to slander will not find rest, nor will he settle down in peace.
17 The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue.
19 Happy is the man who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters;
20 for its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
21 its death is an evil death, and Hades is preferable to it.
22 It will not be master over the godly, and they will not be burned in its flame.
23 Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them.
24 See that you fence in your property with thorns, lock up your silver and gold,
25 make balances and scales for your words, and make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
26 Beware lest you err with your tongue, lest you fall before him who lies in wait.
Chapter: 29
1 He that shows mercy will lend to his neighbor, and he that strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.
2 Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need; and in turn, repay your neighbor promptly.
3 Confirm your word and keep faith with him, and on every occasion you will find what you need.
4 Many persons regard a loan as a windfall, and cause trouble to those who help them.
5 A man will kiss another's hands until he gets a loan, and will lower his voice in speaking of his neighbor's money; but at the time for repayment he will delay, and will pay in words of unconcern, and will find fault with the time.
6 If the lender exert pressure, he will hardly get back half, and will regard that as a windfall. If he does not, the borrower has robbed him of his money, and he has needlessly made him his enemy; he will repay him with curses and reproaches, and instead of glory will repay him with dishonor.
7 Because of such wickedness, therefore, many have refused to lend; they have been afraid of being defrauded needlessly.
8 Nevertheless, be patient with a man in humble circumstances, and do not make him wait for your alms.
9 Help a poor man for the commandment's sake, and because of his need do not send him away empty.
10 Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11 Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold.
12 Store up almsgiving in your treasury, and it will rescue you from all affliction;
13 more than a mighty shield and more than a heavy spear, it will fight on your behalf against your enemy.
14 A good man will be surety for his neighbor, but a man who has lost his sense of shame will fail him.
15 Do not forget all the kindness of your surety, for he has given his life for you.
16 A sinner will overthrow the prosperity of his surety,
17 and one who does not feel grateful will abandon his rescuer.
18 Being surety has ruined many men who were prosperous, and has shaken them like a wave of the sea; it has driven men of power into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19 The sinner who has fallen into suretyship and pursues gain will fall into lawsuits.
20 Assist your neighbor according to your ability, but take heed to yourself lest you fall.
21 The essentials for life are water and bread and clothing and a house to cover one's nakedness.
22 Better is the life of a poor man under the shelter of his roof than sumptuous food in another man's house.
23 Be content with little or much.
24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house, and where you are a stranger you may not open your mouth;
25 you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear bitter words:
26 "Come here, stranger, prepare the table, and if you have anything at hand, let me have it to eat."
27 "Give place, stranger, to an honored person; my brother has come to stay with me; I need my house."
28 These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: scolding about lodging and the reproach of the moneylender.