Ecclesiasticus, 19

1. A labouring man that A is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.

1. A drunken worker will never be rich; he who is careless in small things will soon fall.

2. Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.

2. Wine and women corrupt the best of men; whoever frequents prostitutes loses all sense of shame.

3. Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.

3. He will be the victim of grubs and worms and lose his life because of his stupidity.

4. He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.

4. He who is too quick to trust others reveals a shallow mind, whoever sins injures himself.

5. Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.

5. One who revels in pleasure will be condemned,

6. He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.

6. hating gossip will save one from evil.

7. Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.

7. Never repeat what you are told and you will come to no harm.

8. Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.

8. Report nothing to friend or foe and, unless silence is sinful, reveal it to no one.

9. For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.

9. They will listen, distrust you and you will end up being hated.

10. If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.

10. Have you heard something? Let it die with you, remain calm; you will not burst with it.

11. A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.

11. A fool suffers like a woman in childbirth over something he is told.

12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.

12. Like an arrow stuck in his thigh, such is a secret inside a fool.

13. Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.

13. Speak with your friend: perhaps he has done nothing and, if he has, he will not do it again.

14. Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.

14. Speak with your friend: perhaps he has not said anything and, if he has, he will not say it again.

15. Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.

15. Speak with your friend for there is much slander; do not believe all that you hear.

16. There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

16. Often, unintentional slips are made; for who has never sinned by evil tongues?

17. Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.

17. Speak with your neighbor before you heap accusations on him; then leave room for the Law of the Almighty.

18. The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtaineth his love.

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19. The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.

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20. The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.

20. All wisdom is in the fear of the Lord; in all wisdom is the fulfillment of the Law.

21. If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.

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22. The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.

22. Knowledge of evil is not wisdom, and prudence is not found in the advice of sinners.

23. There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.

23. There is a cleverness that is loathsome; it belongs to the evildoer who lacks wisdom.

24. He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.

24. Better to lack sense and be full of the fear of the Lord, than to be clever in violating the Law.

25. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment.

25. There is an ingenious shrewdness which carries out injustice; it is the art of dissimulating in order to do evil.

26. There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,

26. One pretends to be grieving and weighed down with burdens but in his heart there is only cunning;

27. Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.

27. he hides his face and pretends to be deaf, but as soon as you are distracted, he will take advantage of you.

28. And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.

28. One does not sin when the means are lacking; at the first opportunity, he will do wrong.

29. A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.

29. You can tell a man by his appearance; the responsible man can be recognized by his face.

30. A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.

30. A man's way of dressing reveals who he is, as does his manner of laughing and walking.