Sirach 20
20
Sirach 20
Silence and Speech
1 #
vv 5–7, 19, 20; Eccl 3.7; Am 5.13There is a rebuke that is untimely,
and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.
2 #
Prov 28.13
How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!
3 #
Prov 28.13
And the one who admits his fault will be kept from ridicule.
4 #
Sir 30.20
Like a eunuch lusting to violate a young woman
is the person who makes decisions under compulsion.
5 #
v 1
; Job 13.5; Prov 10.19; 17.28Some people keep silent and are found#20.5 Gk: Heb thought to be wise,
while others are detested for being talkative.
6 #
vv 5–7, 19, 20; Eccl 3.7; Am 5.13Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,
while others keep silent because they know when to speak.
7 #
Sir 32.4
The wise remain silent until the right moment,
but the arrogant and the fool miss the right moment.
8 #
Prov 10.19
Whoever talks too much is detested,
and whoever pretends to authority is hated.#20.8 Other ancient authorities add How good it is to show repentance when you are reproved, for so you will escape deliberate sin!
Paradoxes
9There may be good fortune for a person in adversity,
and a windfall may result in a loss.
10There is the gift that profits you nothing
and the gift to be paid back double.
11 #
Mt 23.12; Lk 14.11; 18.14 There are losses for the sake of glory,
and there are some who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
12Some buy much for little
but pay for it seven times over.
13 #
v 14
; Sir 6.5; 18.18; 21.16The wise make themselves beloved by only few words,#20.13 Heb: Gk by words
but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
14A fool’s gift will profit you nothing,#20.14 Other ancient authorities add so it is with the envious who give under compulsion
for he looks for recompense sevenfold.#20.14 Syr: Gk he has many eyes instead of one
15 #
Sir 18.18; Mt 6.2 He gives little and insults much;
he opens his mouth like a town crier.
Today he lends, and tomorrow he asks it back;
such a one is hateful.#20.15 Other ancient authorities add to God and humans
16The fool says, “I have no friends,
and I get no thanks for my good deeds.”
Those who eat his bread are evil-tongued.
17How many will ridicule him, and how often!#20.17 Other ancient authorities add for he has not honestly received what he has, and what he does not have is unimportant to him
Inappropriate Speech
18 #
Prov 12.13; 18.7 A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
the downfall of the wicked will occur just as speedily.
19 #
Sir 22.6
A coarse person is like an inappropriate story,
continually on the lips of the ignorant.
20 #
v 7
; Prov 15.23A proverb from a fool’s lips will be rejected,
for he does not tell it at the proper time.
21 #
Deut 8.11–17
One may be prevented from sinning by poverty,
so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22 #
Sir 4.21
One may lose his life through shame
or lose it because of a foolish person.#20.22 Other ancient authorities read human respect
23One may make promises to a friend out of shame
and so make an enemy for nothing.
Lying
24 #
Sir 25.2
A lie is an ugly blot on a person;
it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
25A thief is preferable to a habitual liar,
but both will inherit ruin.
26The character of liars leads to disgrace,
and their shame is ever with them.
Proverbial Sayings#20.27 This heading is included in the Gk text.
27 #
Gen 41.39, 40 Wise persons advance themselves by their words,
and those who are sensible please the great.
28 #
Prov 12.11; 28.19 Those who cultivate the soil heap up their harvest,
and those who please the great atone for injustice.
29 #
Ex 23.8; Deut 16.19 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise;
like a muzzle on the mouth they stop reproofs.
30 #
Wis 7.13; Sir 41.14 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure—
of what value is either?
31 #
Sir 41.15
Better are those who hide their folly
than those who hide their wisdom.#20.31 Other ancient authorities add 20.32: Unwearied endurance in seeking the Lord is better than a masterless charioteer of one’s own life.
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Sirach 20: NRSVUE
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sirach 20
20
Sirach 20
Silence and Speech
1 #
vv 5–7, 19, 20; Eccl 3.7; Am 5.13There is a rebuke that is untimely,
and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.
2 #
Prov 28.13
How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!
3 #
Prov 28.13
And the one who admits his fault will be kept from ridicule.
4 #
Sir 30.20
Like a eunuch lusting to violate a young woman
is the person who makes decisions under compulsion.
5 #
v 1
; Job 13.5; Prov 10.19; 17.28Some people keep silent and are found#20.5 Gk: Heb thought to be wise,
while others are detested for being talkative.
6 #
vv 5–7, 19, 20; Eccl 3.7; Am 5.13Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,
while others keep silent because they know when to speak.
7 #
Sir 32.4
The wise remain silent until the right moment,
but the arrogant and the fool miss the right moment.
8 #
Prov 10.19
Whoever talks too much is detested,
and whoever pretends to authority is hated.#20.8 Other ancient authorities add How good it is to show repentance when you are reproved, for so you will escape deliberate sin!
Paradoxes
9There may be good fortune for a person in adversity,
and a windfall may result in a loss.
10There is the gift that profits you nothing
and the gift to be paid back double.
11 #
Mt 23.12; Lk 14.11; 18.14 There are losses for the sake of glory,
and there are some who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
12Some buy much for little
but pay for it seven times over.
13 #
v 14
; Sir 6.5; 18.18; 21.16The wise make themselves beloved by only few words,#20.13 Heb: Gk by words
but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
14A fool’s gift will profit you nothing,#20.14 Other ancient authorities add so it is with the envious who give under compulsion
for he looks for recompense sevenfold.#20.14 Syr: Gk he has many eyes instead of one
15 #
Sir 18.18; Mt 6.2 He gives little and insults much;
he opens his mouth like a town crier.
Today he lends, and tomorrow he asks it back;
such a one is hateful.#20.15 Other ancient authorities add to God and humans
16The fool says, “I have no friends,
and I get no thanks for my good deeds.”
Those who eat his bread are evil-tongued.
17How many will ridicule him, and how often!#20.17 Other ancient authorities add for he has not honestly received what he has, and what he does not have is unimportant to him
Inappropriate Speech
18 #
Prov 12.13; 18.7 A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
the downfall of the wicked will occur just as speedily.
19 #
Sir 22.6
A coarse person is like an inappropriate story,
continually on the lips of the ignorant.
20 #
v 7
; Prov 15.23A proverb from a fool’s lips will be rejected,
for he does not tell it at the proper time.
21 #
Deut 8.11–17
One may be prevented from sinning by poverty,
so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22 #
Sir 4.21
One may lose his life through shame
or lose it because of a foolish person.#20.22 Other ancient authorities read human respect
23One may make promises to a friend out of shame
and so make an enemy for nothing.
Lying
24 #
Sir 25.2
A lie is an ugly blot on a person;
it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
25A thief is preferable to a habitual liar,
but both will inherit ruin.
26The character of liars leads to disgrace,
and their shame is ever with them.
Proverbial Sayings#20.27 This heading is included in the Gk text.
27 #
Gen 41.39, 40 Wise persons advance themselves by their words,
and those who are sensible please the great.
28 #
Prov 12.11; 28.19 Those who cultivate the soil heap up their harvest,
and those who please the great atone for injustice.
29 #
Ex 23.8; Deut 16.19 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise;
like a muzzle on the mouth they stop reproofs.
30 #
Wis 7.13; Sir 41.14 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure—
of what value is either?
31 #
Sir 41.15
Better are those who hide their folly
than those who hide their wisdom.#20.31 Other ancient authorities add 20.32: Unwearied endurance in seeking the Lord is better than a masterless charioteer of one’s own life.
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.