Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 19

¹A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little. ²Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent. ³Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away. ⁴He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul. ⁵Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life. ⁶He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil. ⁷Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse. ⁸Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.

⁹For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee. ¹⁰If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee. ¹¹A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child. ¹²As an arrow that sticketh in a man’s thigh, so is a word within a fool’s belly. ¹³Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more. ¹⁴Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again. ¹⁵Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale. ¹⁶There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

¹⁷Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High. ¹⁸The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of him , and wisdom obtaineth his love. ¹⁹The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality. ²⁰The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency. ²¹If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him. ²²The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence. ²³There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom. ²⁴He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.

²⁵There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment. ²⁶There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit, ²⁷Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware. ²⁸And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil. ²⁹A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him. ³⁰A man’s attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.