The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 22
1 – The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak of his disgrace.
2 – The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that toucheth him will shake his hands.
3 – A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish daughter shall be to his loss.
4 – A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father.
5 – She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both.
6 – A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time.
7 – He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd together.
8 – He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that waketh a man out of a deep sleep.
9 – He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this?
10 – Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the fool, for his understanding faileth.
11 – Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest.
12 – For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.
13 – The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of their life.
14 – Talk not much with a fool, and go not with him that hath no sense.
15 – Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sin.
16 – Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be wearied out with his folly.
17 – What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool?
18 – Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man without sense, that is both foolish and wicked.
19 – A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by advised counsel.
20 – The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be depraved by fear.
21 – As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, will not stand against the face of the wind:
22 – So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not resist against the violence of fear.
23 – As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the commandments of God.
24 – He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment.
25 – He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship.
26 – Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for there may be a returning. To a friend,
27 – If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a friend will flee away.
28 – Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his prosperity also thou mayst rejoice.
29 – In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance.
30 – As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, before blood.
31 – I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear it.
32 – But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him.
33 – Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
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.