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The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 22 -

Wise sayings on divers subjects.

1
A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled. Everyone will at hiss at him in his disgrace.
2
A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill. Anyone who picks it up will shake it out of his hand.
3
An undisciplined child is a disgrace to his father, and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
4
A prudent daughter will inherit a husband of her own. She who brings shame is the grief of her father.
5
She who is arrogant brings shame on father and husband. She will be despised by both of them.
6
Ill-timed conversation is like music in mourning, but stripes and correction are wisdom in every season.
7
He who teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together, even like one who wakes a sleeper out of a deep sleep.
8
He who teaches a fool is as one who teaches a man who slumbers. In the end he will say, “What is it?”
9
(a)
10
(b)
11
Weep for the dead, for he lacks light. Weep for a fool, for he lacks understanding. Weep more sweetly for the dead, because he has found rest, but the life of the fool is worse than death.
12
Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but for a fool and an ungodly man, it lasts all the days of his life.
13
Don’t talk much with a foolish man, and don’t go to one who has no understanding. Beware of him, lest you have trouble and be defiled in his onslaught. Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you won’t be wearied in his madness.
14
What would be heavier than lead? What is its name, but “Fool”?
15
Sand, salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear than a man without understanding.
16
Timber girded and bound into a building will not be released with shaking. So a heart established in due season on well advised counsel will not be afraid.
17
A heart settled upon a thoughtful understanding is as an ornament of plaster on a polished wall.
18
Fences set on a high place will not stand against the wind; so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool will not stand against any fear.
19
He who pricks the eye will make tears fall. He who pricks the heart makes it show feeling.
20
Whoever casts a stone at birds scares them away. He who insults a friend will dissolve friendship.
21
If you have drawn a sword against a friend, don’t despair, for there may be a way back.
22
If you have opened your mouth against a friend, don’t be afraid, for there may be reconciliation, unless it is for insulting, arrogance, disclosing of a secret, or a treacherous blow— for these things any friend will flee.
23
Gain trust with your neighbor in his poverty, that in his prosperity you may have gladness. Stay steadfast to him in the time of his affliction, that you may be heir with him in his inheritance.(c)
24
Before fire is the vapor and smoke of a furnace, so insults precede bloodshed.
25
I won’t be ashamed to shelter a friend. I won’t hide myself from his face.
26
If any evil happens to me because of him, everyone who hears it will beware of him.
27
Who will set a watch over my mouth, and a seal of shrewdness upon my lips, that I may not fall from it, and that my tongue may not destroy me?

Footnotes

(a)22:9 Verses 9 and 10 are omitted by the best authorities.
(b)22:9 Verses 9 and 10 are omitted by the best authorities.
(c)22:23 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.

Wise sayings on divers subjects.

1
A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.
2
A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.
3
An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
4
A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father’s heaviness.
5
She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.
6
A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
7
Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.
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?
9
If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.
10
But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.
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.
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.
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.
14
What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?
15
Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.
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.
17
A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.
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.
19
He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.
20
Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.
21
Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favour.
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.
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.
24
As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.
25
I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.
26
And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will beware of him.
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?
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