Sirach 20

¹ {cf2 There is some rebuke that is not comely: againe, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise.}

² {cf2 It is much better to reprooue, then to beare euill will: and he that acknowledgeth his fault, shalbe preserued from hurt.}

³ {cf2 As when a gelded man through lust woulde defile a mayde, so is he that vseth violence in iudgement.}

⁴ {cf2 Howe good a thing is it, when thou art reprooued, to shewe repentance! For so shalt thou escape wilfull sinne.}

⁵ {cf2 Some man keepeth silence, & is found wise, and some by much babbling becommeth hatefull.}

⁶ {cf2 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answere: and some keepeth silence, waiting a conuenient time.}

⁷ {cf2 A wise man will holde his tongue till he see opportunitie: but a trifler and a foole will regarde no time.}

⁸ {cf2 He that vseth many wordes, shall be abhorred, and he that taketh authoritie to him selfe, shalbe hated.}

⁹ {cf2 Some man hath oft times prosperitie in wicked thinges, and sometime a thing that is founde, bringeth losse.}

¹⁰ {cf2 There is some gift that is not profitable for thee, & there is some gift, whose reward is double.}

¹¹ {cf2 Some man humbleth him selfe for glories sake, and some by humblenesse lifteth vp the head.}

¹² {cf2 Some man byeth much for a litle price: for the which he payeth seuen times more.}

¹³ {cf2 A wise man with his wordes maketh him selfe to be loued, but the merrie tales of fooles shal be powred out.}

¹⁴ {cf2 The gift receiued of a foole, shall doe thee no good, neither yet of the enuious for his importunitie: for he looketh to receiue many things for one: he giueth litle, and he vpbraideth much: he openeth his mouth like a towne cryer: to day he lendeth, to morowe asketh he againe, and such one is to be hated of God and man.}

¹⁵ {cf2 The foole saith, I haue no friend: I haue no thanke for all my good deedes: and they that eate my bread, speake euill of me.}

¹⁶ {cf2 How oft, and of how many shal he be laughed to scorne? for he comprehendeth not by right iudgement that which he hath: and it is all one as though he had it not.}

¹⁷ {cf2 The fall on a pauement is very sudden: so shall the fall of the wicked come hastely.}

¹⁸ {cf2 A man without grace is as a foolish tale which is oft tolde by the mouth of the ignorant.}

¹⁹ {cf2 A wise sentence loseth grace when it commeth out of a fooles mouth: for he speaketh not in due season.}

²⁰ {cf2 Some man sinneth not because of pouertie, and yet is not grieued when he is alone.}

²¹ {cf2 Some man there is that destroyeth his owne soule, because he is ashamed, and for the regarde of persons loseth it.}

²² {cf2 Some man promiseth vnto his friende for shame, and getteth an enemie of him for naught.}

²³ {cf2 A lie is a wicked shame in a man: yet is it oft in the mouth of the vnwise,}

²⁴ {cf2 A thiefe is better, then a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall haue destruction to heritage.}

²⁵ {cf2 The conditions of lyars are vnhonest, and their shame is euer with them.}

²⁶ {cf2 A wise man shall bring him selfe to honour with his wordes, and he that hath vnderstanding, shall please great men.}

²⁷ {cf2 He that tilleth his lande, shall increase his heape: he that worketh righteousnesse, shalbe exalted, and he that pleaseth great men, shall haue pardon of his iniquitie.}

²⁸ {cf2 Rewardes and giftes blinde the eyes of the wise, and make them dumme, that they can not reprooue faultes.}

²⁹ {cf2 Wisedome that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded vp, what profite is in them both?}

³⁰ {cf2 Better is hee that keepeth his ignorance secret, then a man that hydeth his wisedome.}

³¹ {cf2 The necessarie patience of him, that followeth the Lorde, is better then he that gouerneth his life without the Lorde.}