Sirach 19

1A worker in this will not become rich, and one who despises small things will be ruined.

2Wine and women lead the heart astray, and a bold soul destroys its owner.

3Rot and worms will inherit him, and a bold soul will be taken away.

4He who trusts too quickly is light of heart, and he who sins against his own soul will go astray.

5Whoever rejoices in heart will be condemned, and whoever hates talk is lessened by evil.

6Never repeat a word, and nothing will be taken from you.

7Do not tell it to friend or foe, and if it is not a sin for you, do not reveal it.

8For he has heard you and has guarded himself against you, and in time he will hate you.

9Have you heard a word? Let it die with you; take courage, it will not burst you open.

10A fool will suffer pangs at the sight of a word, like a woman in labor at the sight of a baby.

11An arrow stuck in the thigh of flesh—so is a word in the belly of a fool.

12Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; and if he did do something, so that he may not add to it.

13Reprove a friend, lest perhaps he did not say it; and if he did say it, so that he may not repeat it.

14Reprove a friend, for often there is slander, and do not believe every word.

15A man may slip and not mean it; and who has not sinned with his tongue?

16Rebuke your neighbor before you threaten, and give place to the law of the Most High.

17All wisdom is fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the practice of the law.

18And the knowledge of evil is not wisdom, and where the counsel of sinners is, there is no understanding.

19There is a wickedness that is also an abomination, and there is a fool lacking in wisdom.

20Better is one who is lacking, with understanding and fear, than one who abounds in prudence and transgresses the law.

21There is a meticulous cunning, and this too is unjust; and there is one who twists things in order to bring a judgment to light.

22There is one who plots evil, bent low in gloom, and inwardly he is full of deceit;

23He stoops his face and pretends to be deaf; where he is not recognized, he will outwit you.

24And if he is prevented from sinning by lack of strength, when he finds an opportunity he will do evil.

25A man is recognized by his appearance, and a man of understanding is recognized by the expression of his face.

26A man's attire, and the laughter of his teeth, and a person's steps proclaim what concerns him.

27One who lowers his face and pretends not to hear—where he is not recognized, he will get ahead of you.

28And if he is prevented from sinning by lack of strength, when he finds an opportunity, he will do evil.

29From appearance a man is recognized, and from the expression of the face one who has understanding is recognized.

30A man's attire, and the laughter of his teeth, and a person's steps proclaim what is about him.