Sirach
22:1 A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss
him out to his disgrace.
22:2 A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that
takes it up will shake his hand.
22:3 An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a
[foolish] daughter is born to his loss.
22:4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that
liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.
22:5 She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they
both shall despise her.
22:6 A tale out of season [is as] musick in mourning: but stripes and
correction of wisdom are never out of time.
22:7 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as
he that waketh one from a sound sleep.
22:8 He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: when he
hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?
22:9 If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the
baseness of their parents.
22:10 But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do
stain the nobility of their kindred.
22:11 Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool,
for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he
is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.
22:12 Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an
ungodly man all the days of his life.
22:13 Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding:
beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled
with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never
be disquieted with madness.
22:14 What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?
22:15 Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man
without understanding.
22:16 As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with
shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear
at no time.
22:17 A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering
on the wall of a gallery.
22:18 Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a
fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any
fear.
22:19 He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh
the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.
22:20 Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that
upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.
22:21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there
may be a returning [to favour.]
22:22 If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there
may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing
of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for these things every friend
will depart.
22:23 Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in
his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that
thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not
always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in
admiration.
22:24 As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling
before blood.
22:25 I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself
from him.
22:26 And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will
beware of him.
22:27 Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my
lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me
not?
