Ecclesiasticus, 5

1. Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life.

1. Do not rely on your wealth. Do not say, "I am self-sufficient."

2. Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart:

2. Do not let yourself be carried away by greed and violence; they would make you their slave.

3. And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride.

3. Do not say, "Who can stop me?" For the Lord has power to punish you.

4. Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.

4. Do not say, "I have sinned and nothing has happened!" For the Lord bides his time.

5. Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin:

5. Do not be so sure of pardon when you are heaping sin upon sin.

6. And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners.

6. Do not say, "His compassion is great! He will forgive the vast number of my sins!" For with him is mercy but also anger; his fury will be poured out on sinners.

7. Make 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, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.

7. Do not delay your return to the Lord, do not put it off from day to day. For suddenly the anger of the Lord will blaze forth and you will perish on the day of reckoning.

8. Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity.

8. Do not rely on riches wrongfully acquired for they will be of no use to you on the day of wrath.

9. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.

9. Do not be swayed by every wind nor try to walk by every path, as does the sinner who is accustomed to lie.

10. Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.

10. Remain firm in your convictions, and be consistent in your speech.

11. Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.

11. Be ready to listen, and know how to wait before giving your reply.

12. If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

12. If you know what you are saying, answer your neighbor; if not, it is better to say nothing.

13. Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall.

13. Your words can bring you honor and dishonor; a man's tongue brings about his downfall.

14. Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.

14. Do not let yourself be known as a scandalmonger or a deceiver. For if shame is the lot of the robber, severe condemnation is the lot of the liar.

15. Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.

15. Do not sin in big things nor in little things, and from being a friend do not turn into an enemy. An evil reputation brings in its train shame and disgrace; such is the lot of the sinner who is accustomed to lying.