The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 19
1 – Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
11 – At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning. in the bringing forth a child.
12 – As an arrow that sticketh in a man’s thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool.
13 – Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say : f did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.
14 – Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
15 – Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
16 – And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart.
17 – For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.
18 – And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.
19 – But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence.
20 – There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.
21 – Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
22 – There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.
23 – And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit:
24 – And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:
25 – And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.
26 – A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance.
27 – The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, shew what he is.
28 – There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.
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The Catholic Bible Online. Scriptures are from The Douay Rheims Catholic Bible 1582-1610 a.d. Version In the Public Domain. The Douay Rheims Bible is a translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English undertaken by members of the English College, Douai in the service of the Catholic Church.
