The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 8
1 – Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.
2 – Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee.
3 – For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.
4 – Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.
5 – Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy family.
6 – Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.
7 – Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old.
8 – Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death.
9 – Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.
10 – For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of understanding, and to serve great men without blame.
11 – Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have learned of their fathers:
12 – For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need.
13 – Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.
14 – Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as a spy to entrap thee in thy words.
15 – Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou lendest, count it as lost.
16 – Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if thou wert to pay it.
17 – Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which is just.
18 – Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish together with his folly.
19 – Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.
20 – Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as please them.
21 – Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.
22 – Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.
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.