SIRACH 5

1Set not thy heart upon thy goods;

And say not, They are sufficient for me.

2Follow not thine own mind and thy strength,

To walk in the desires of thy heart;

3And say not, Who shall have dominion over me?

For the Lord will surely take vengeance on thee.

4Say not, I sinned, and what happened unto me?

For the Lord is longsuffering. 1

5Concerning atonement, be not without fear,

To add sin upon sins:

6And say not, His compassion is great;

He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins:

For mercy and wrath are with him,

And his indignation will rest upon sinners.

7Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord;

And put not off from day to day:

For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth; 2

And thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance.

8Set not thine heart upon unrighteous gains:

For thou shalt profit nothing in the day of calamity.

9Winnow not with every wind,

And walk not in every path:

Thus doeth the sinner that hath a double tongue.

10Be stedfast in thy understanding;

And let thy word be one.

11Be swift to hear; 3

And with patience make thine answer.

12If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour;

And if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth.

13Glory and dishonour is in talk:

And the tongue of a man is his fall.

14Be not called a whisperer;

And lie not in wait with thy tongue:

For upon the thief there is shame,

And an evil condemnation upon him that hath a double tongue.

15In a great matter and in a small, be not ignorant;