ECCLESIASTICUS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
19:6. He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned.
19:7. Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not fare the worse.
19:8. Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with thee, disclose it not.
19:9. For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee always.
19:10. Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
19:11. At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning in the bringing forth a child.
19:12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool.
19:13. Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.
19:14. Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
19:15. Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
19:16. And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart.
19:17. For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.
19:18. And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.
19:19. But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence.
19:20. There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.
19:21. Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
19:22. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.
19:23. And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit:
19:24. And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:
19:25. And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.
19:26. A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance.
19:27. The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, shew what he is.
19:28. There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 20
Rules with regard to correction, discretion, and avoiding lies.
20:1. How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.
20:2. The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden:
20:3. So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise.
20:4. How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.
20:5. There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.
20:6. There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.
20:7. A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.
20:8. He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.
20:9. There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.
20:10. There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which is double.
20:11. There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate.
20:12. There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold.
20:13. A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
20:14. The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.
20:15. He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.