Sirach 19
19
1A drunken worker#19.1 Heb Whoever does this
won’t become rich,
and whoever neglects the little things
will fail little by little.
2Wine and women
will mislead an intelligent person,
and the one who has sex with prostitutes will become more reckless.
3Decay and worms will possess him,
and his reckless soul will be carried away.
4Those who trust others too quickly
have empty heads,
and those who sin injure themselves.
5Those who rejoice in wickedness
will be condemned.#19.5 LXXb adds 19:5b-6a but those who withstand pleasures bring glory to their life. Those who control their tongue will live without conflict.
6And those who are reticent to speak
diminish wickedness.
7Never repeat something that you’ve heard,
and you will not lose anything.
8Don’t report it to a friend or an enemy,
and, as long as it wouldn’t be a sin for you, don’t reveal it.
9People might hear you or observe you,
and in time they will hate you.
10Have you heard some word?
Let it perish along with you.
Have courage!
It won’t make you burst.
11Because of something spoken,
a fool will suffer labor pains
like those caused by a baby
about to be delivered.
12Like an arrow stuck in a thigh,
so is a word in the belly of a fool.
13Question a friend;
perhaps he didn’t do it.
And if he did, question him
so he doesn’t do it again.
14Question a neighbor;
perhaps she didn’t say it.
And if she did say it,
question her so that she doesn’t repeat it.
15Question a friend, because it often
turns out to be a false accusation.
Don’t trust everything that is said.
16There are those who slip,
and it wasn’t intentional.
Who hasn’t sinned with the tongue?
17Question your neighbor
before issuing a threat,
and give the Law of the Most High
its place.#19.17 LXXb adds 19:18-19 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance, and wisdom secures affection from him. Knowledge of the Lord’s commandments is education for life, and those who do things that are pleasing to him will harvest the fruit of the tree of immortality.
Wisdom and cleverness
20Fearing the Lord is the whole of wisdom,
and all wisdom involves
doing the Law.#19.20 LXXb adds 19:20c-21 and there is knowledge of his omnipotence. When household slaves say to the master, “I won’t do what pleases you,” and if after this they do those things, they still anger the one who provides for them.
22The knowledge of wickedness
isn’t wisdom,
and there is no prudence
in the advice that sinners give.
23There is a kind of cleverness
that is detestable,
and there is a senseless person
who lacks wisdom.
24Someone who fears God
but who has inferior intelligence
is better than someone
who abounds in intelligence
but who violates the Law.
25There is cleverness that is precise
but unjust,
and there are people who abuse favors
in order to get a favorable decision.#19.25 LXXb adds and whoever treats others justly is wise in judgment.
26And there are people who act wickedly, bowed down gloomily,
and their insides are full of treachery.
27They hide their faces,
and they pretend they can’t hear;
when you aren’t paying attention,
they will outrun you.
28If they are prevented from sinning,
it’s because they lack the strength.
If they find an occasion,
they will do evil.
29People are known by their appearance,
and sensible people are recognized
in a face-to-face meeting.
30A person’s clothing,
their vigorous laughter,
and the way they walk
will proclaim things about them.
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Sirach 19: CEB
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