Sirach 22

1A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone,

And everyone will hiss him out to his disgrace.

2A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill:

Every man that takes it up will shake his hand.

3An evil-nurtured son is the dishonor of his father that begot him:

And a foolish daughter is born to his loss.

4A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband:

But she that liveth dishonestly is her father’s heaviness.

5She that is bold dishonoreth both her father and her husband,

And they both shall despise her.

6A tale out of season is as music in mourning:

But stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.

9Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together,

And as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.

10He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber:

When he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?

11Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light:

And weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding:

Make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest:

But the life of the fool is worse than death.

12Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead;

But for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life.

13Talk not much with a fool,

And go not to him that hath no understanding:

Beware of him, lest thou have trouble,

And thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries:

Depart from him, and thou shalt find rest,

And never be disquieted with madness.

14What is heavier than lead?

And what is the name thereof, but a fool?

15Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, are easier to bear,

Than a man without understanding.

16As timber girded and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking:

So the heart that is established by advised counsel shall fear at no time.

17A heart settled upon a thought of understanding

Is as a fair plastering on the wall of a gallery.

18Pales set on a high place will never stand against the wind:

So a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.

19He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall:

And he that pricketh the heart maketh it to show her knowledge.

20Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away:

And he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.

21Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not:

For there may be a returning to favor.

22If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not;

For there may be a reconciliation:

Except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound:

For for these things every friend will depart.

23Be faithful to thy neighbor in his poverty,

That thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity:

Abide steadfast unto him in the time of his trouble,

That thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage.

24As the vapor and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire;

So reviling before blood.

25I will not be ashamed to defend a friend;

Neither will I hide myself from him;

26And if any evil happen unto me by him,

Everyone that heareth it will beware of him.

27Who shall set a watch before my mouth,

And a seal of wisdom upon my lips,

That I fall not suddenly by them,

And that my tongue destroy me not?