Sirach 19

¹ {cf2 A labouring man that is giuen to drunkennesse, shal not be rich: and he that contemneth smal things, shall fall by litle and litle.}

² {cf2 Wine and women leade wise men out of the way, and put men of vnderstanding to reproofe.}

³ {cf2 And he that companieth adulterers, shall become impudent: rottenesse and wormes shall haue him to heritage, and he that is to bolde, shall be taken away, and be made a publike example.}

⁴ {cf2 Hee that is hastie to giue credite, is light minded, and hee that erreth, sinneth against his owne soule.}

⁵ {cf2 Who so reioyceth in wickednesse, shall be punished: he that hateth to be reformed, his life shall bee shortened, and hee that abhorreth babbling of wordes, quencheth wickednesse: but hee that resisteth pleasures, crowneth his owne soule.}

⁶ {cf2 He that refraineth his tongue, may liue with a troublesome man, and hee that hateth babbling, shall haue lesse euill.}

⁷ {cf2 Rehearse not to another, that which is tolde vnto thee: so thou shalt not be hindred.}

⁸ {cf2 Declare not other mens manners, neither to friend nor foe: and if the sinne appertaine not vnto thee, reueile it not.}

⁹ {cf2 For hee will hearken vnto thee, and marke thee, and when hee findeth opportunitie, hee will hate thee.}

¹⁰ {cf2 If thou hast heard a worde against thy neighbour let it die with thee, and bee sure, it will not burst thee.}

¹¹ {cf2 A foole trauaileth when hee hath heard a thing, as a woman that is about to bring forth a childe.}

¹² {cf2 As an arrowe that sticketh in ones thigh, so is a word in a fooles heart.}

¹³ {cf2 Reproue a friend least he do euill, and if he haue done it, that he doe it no more.}

¹⁴ {cf2 Reproue a friende that hee may keepe his tongue: and if hee haue spoken, that hee say it no more.}

¹⁵ {cf2 Tel thy friend his faute: for oft times a slaunder is raised, and giue no credence to euery word.}

¹⁶ {cf2 A man falleth with his tongue, but not with his will: and who is he, that hath not offended in his tongue?}

¹⁷ {cf2 Reproue thy neighbour before thou threaten him, and being without anger, giue place vnto the Lawe of the most High.}

¹⁸ {cf2 The feare of the Lord is the first degree to be receiued of him, and wisedome obteineth his loue.}

¹⁹ {cf2 The knowledge of the commandementes of the Lord is the doctrine of life, and they that obey him, shall receiue the fruit of immortalitie.}

²⁰ {cf2 The feare of the Lord is all wisedome, & the performing of the Law is perfect wisdome, and the knowledge of his almightie power.}

²¹ {cf2 If a seruant say vnto his master, I wil not do as it pleaseth thee, though afterwarde he doe it, hee shall displease him that nourisheth him.}

²² {cf2 The knowledge of wickednesse is not wisedome, neither is there prudencie whereas the counsell of sinners is: but it is euen execrable malice and the foole is voyde of wisedome.}

²³ {cf2 Hee that hath small vnderstanding, and feareth God, is better then one that hath much wisedome, and transgresseth the Law of the most high.}

²⁴ {cf2 There is a certaine subtiltie that is fine, but it is vnrighteous: and there is that wresteth the open and manifest Lawe: yet there is that is wise and iudgeth righteously.}

²⁵ {cf2 There is some that being about wicked purposes, doe bowe downe themselues, and are sadde, whose inwarde parts burne altogether with deceit: he looketh downe with his face, & faineth himselfe deafe: yet before thou perceiue, he will bee vpon thee to hurt thee.}

²⁶ {cf2 And though he be so weake that he can doe thee no harme, yet when he may finde opportunitie, he will doe euill.}

²⁷ {cf2 A man may be knowen by his looke, and one that hath vnderstanding, may be perceiued by the marking of his countenance.}

²⁸ {cf2 A mans garment, and his excessiue laughter, and going declare what person he is.}