The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
28:6 Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.
28:7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.
28:8 Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,
28:9 A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace.
28:10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man’s strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger riseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.
28:11 An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.
28:12 If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.
28:13 Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.
28:14 A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.
28:15 A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.
28:16 Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.
28:17 The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.
28:18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.
28:19 Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.
28:20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.
28:21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.
28:22 It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.
28:23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.
28:24 Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,
28:25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.
28:26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.
29:1 He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.
29:2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.
29:3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.
29:4 Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.
29:5 Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand; and for his neighbour’s money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time.
29:6 If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.
29:7 Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.
29:8 Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.
29:9 Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.
29:10 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.
29:11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
29:12 Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.
29:13 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.
29:14 An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.
29:15 Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.
29:16 A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:
29:17 And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in danger] that delivered him.
29:18 Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.
29:19 A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men’s business for gain shall fall into suits.