Sirach 20

¹There is a reproof that is not timely;

and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent.

²How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry.

He who confesses will be kept back from harm. ³

⁴As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin,

so is he who executes judgments with violence.

⁵There is one who keeps silent and is found wise;

and there is one who is hated for his much talk.

⁶There is one who keeps silent, for he has no answer to make;

And there is one who keeps silent, knowing when to speak.

⁷A wise man will be silent until his time has come,

but the braggart and fool will miss his time.

⁸He who uses many words will be abhorred.

He who takes authority for himself will be hated in it.

⁹There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes;

and there is a gain that turns to loss.

¹⁰There is a gift that will not profit you;

and there is a gift that pays back double.

¹¹There are losses because of glory;

and there is one who has lifted up his head from a low estate.

¹²There is one who buys much for a little,

and pays for it again sevenfold.

¹³He who is wise in words will make himself beloved;

but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted.

¹⁴The gift of a fool will not profit you,

for he looks for repayment many times instead of one.

¹⁵He will give little and insult much.

He will open his mouth like a crier.

Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask for it back.

Such a one is a hateful man.

¹⁶The fool will say, “I have no friend,

and I have no thanks for my good deeds.

Those who eat my bread have an evil tongue.”

¹⁷How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn!

¹⁸A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue.

So the fall of the wicked will come speedily.

¹⁹A man without grace is a tale out of season.

It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.

²⁰A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected;

for he won’t tell it at the proper time.

²¹There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack.

When he rests, he will not be troubled.

²²There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness.

By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it.

²³There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend;

and he makes him his enemy for nothing.

²⁴A lie is an ugly blot on a person.

It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.

²⁵A thief is better than a man who is continually lying,

but they both will inherit destruction.

²⁶The destination of a liar is dishonor.

His shame is with him continually.

²⁷He who is wise in words will advance himself.

And one who is prudent will please great men.

²⁸He who tills his land will raise his harvest high.

He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity.

²⁹Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise,

and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs.

³⁰Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight—

what profit is in either of them?

³¹Better is a man who hides his folly

than a man who hides his wisdom. ³²