Ecclesiasticus, 22

1. A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.

1. The idler is like a dirty stone, his disgrace is laughed at.

2. A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.

2. The idler is like a heap of dung, all who touch it shake it off their hands.

3. An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a [foolish] daughter is born to his loss.

3. Badly brought up sons are the shame of their father, and daughters, a humiliation.

4. A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.

4. A sensible daughter is a treasure to her husband, but the disgraceful one is a burden to her father.

5. She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.

5. A shameless daughter brings disgrace on her father as well as her husband; both hate her.

6. A tale out of season [is as] musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.

6. The untimely word is like music at a funeral but beating and correction guided by wisdom are never out of place.

7. Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.

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8. He 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?

8.

9. If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.

9. Teaching a fool is like gluing a broken jar, it is easier to awaken a man from deep sleep.

10. But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.

10. Reasoning with a fool is like reasoning with a drowsy man; in the end, he will ask you, "What is it all about?"

11. Weep 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.

11. Weep for the dead man since the light has deserted him, weep for the fool because understanding has deserted him. Cry less for the dead man; he has found his rest but the fool's life is worse than death.

12. Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life.

12. Mourning the dead lasts seven days, but it lasts a lifetime for the fool and godless man.

13. Talk 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.

13. Do not waste words on the fool or go with the stupid man; beware of him lest he bring you trouble and his contact leave you contaminated. Stay away from him if you want rest and do not want to be worn out by his requests.

14. What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?

14. What is heavier than lead? What is its name but "Fool"?

15. Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.

15. Sand, salt and a load of iron are easier to bear than a fool.

16. As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time.

16. The wooden joint in a building is not dislodged by an earthquake; a determined heart, after careful reflection, will not be moved when crises come.

17. A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.

17. A decision based on serious reflection stands like plaster on a firm wall.

18. Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.

18. Stakes set on a height do not resist the wind; the fool's heart, frightened by his own imaginings, cannot withstand fear.

19. He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.

19. Striking the eye brings tears; if you strike the heart, lucidity will come forth.

20. Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.

20. Whoever throws stones at birds scares them off; reproach a friend and you will kill the friendship.

21. Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning [to favour.]

21. If you have drawn your sword against a friend, do not despair, it can be put back;

22. If 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.

22. if you have spoken harshly to a friend, do not fear, reconciliation is possible; but in the event of insult, contempt, betrayal of a confidence or treacherous blow, any friend would desert you.

23. Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.

23. Win your neighbor's confidence when he is poor so that you may enjoy his goods with him when he grows rich; be loyal in his hour of trouble and you will win, in the end, a share in his inheritance.

24. As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.

24. Smoke and fumes precede the fire; so, too, insults herald the blows.

25. I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.

25. I will not be ashamed of protecting a friend nor will I avoid him;

26. And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will beware of him.

26. if evil comes to me from him, all who hear of it will beware of him.

27. Who 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?

27. Who will put a guard on my mouth and effectively lock up my lips to prevent me from sinning and my tongue from hastening my ruin?