Ecclesiasticus, 20

1. There is the rebuke that is untimely, and there is the person who keeps quiet, and he is the shrewd one.

1. A workman who is a drunkard will not become rich; he who despises small things will fail little by little.

2. But how much better to rebuke than to fume!

2. Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, and the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless.

3. The person who acknowledges a fault wards off punishment.

3. Decay and worms will inherit him, and the reckless soul will be snatched away.

4. Like a eunuch trying to take a girl's virginity is someone who tries to impose justice by force.

4. One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded, and one who sins does wrong to himself.

5. There is the person who keeps quiet and is considered wise, another incurs hatred for talking too much.

5. One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,

6. There is the person who keeps quiet, not knowing how to answer, another keeps quiet, knowing when to speak.

6. and for one who hates gossip evil is lessened.

7. The wise will keep quiet till the right moment, but a garrulous fool will always misjudge it.

7. Never repeat a conversation, and you will lose nothing at all.

8. Someone who talks too much will earn dislike, and someone who usurps authority will earn hatred.

8. With friend or foe do not report it, and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it;

9. There is the person who finds misfortune a boon, and the piece of luck that turns to loss.

9. for some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you.

10. There is the gift that affords you no profit, and the gift that repays you double.

10. Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Be brave! It will not make you burst!

11. There is the honour that leads to humiliation, and there are people in a low state who raise their heads.

11. With such a word a fool will suffer pangs like a woman in labor with a child.

12. There is the person who buys much for little, yet pays for it seven times over.

12. Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word inside a fool.

13. The wise wins love with words, while fools may shower favours in vain.

13. Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more.

14. The gift of the stupid will bring you no advantage, his eyes look for seven times as much in return.

14. Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again.

15. He gives little and reviles much, he opens his mouth like the town crier, he lends today and demands payment tomorrow; he is a detestable fellow.

15. Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.

16. The fool will say, 'I have no friends, I get no gratitude for my good deeds;

16. A person may make a slip without intending it. Who has never sinned with his tongue?

17. those who eat my bread have malicious tongues.' How often he will be laughed at, and by how many!

17. Question your neighbor before you threaten him; and let the law of the Most High take its course.

18. Better a slip on the pavement than a slip of the tongue; this is how ruin takes the wicked by surprise.

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19. A coarse-grained person is like an indiscreet story endlessly retold by the ignorant.

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20. A maxim is rejected when coming from a fool, since the fool does not utter it on the apt occasion.

20. All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.

21. There is a person who is prevented from sinning by poverty; no qualms of conscience disturb that person's rest.

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22. There is a person who courts destruction out of false shame, courts destruction for the sake of a fool's opinion.

22. But the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence where sinners take counsel.

23. There is a person who out of false shame makes promises to a friend, and so makes an enemy for nothing.

23. There is a cleverness which is abominable, but there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.

24. Lying is an ugly blot on anyone, and ever on the lips of the undisciplined.

24. Better is the God-fearing man who lacks intelligence, than the highly prudent man who transgresses the law.

25. A thief is preferable to an inveterate liar, but both are heading for ruin.

25. There is a cleverness which is scrupulous but unjust, and there are people who distort kindness to gain a verdict.

26. Lying is an abominable habit, the liar's disgrace lasts for ever.

26. There is a rascal bowed down in mourning, but inwardly he is full of deceit.

27. The wise gains advancement by words, the shrewd wins favour from the great.

27. He hides his face and pretends not to hear; but where no one notices, he will forestall you.

28. Whoever tills the soil will have a full harvest, whoever wins favour from the great will secure pardon for offences.

28. And if by lack of strength he is prevented from sinning, he will do evil when he finds an opportunity.

29. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise and stifle rebukes like a muzzle on the mouth.

29. A man is known by his appearance, and a sensible man is known by his face, when you meet him.

30. Wisdom concealed, and treasure undiscovered, what use is either of these?

30. A man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, and a man's manner of walking, show what he is.

31. Better one who conceals his folly than one who conceals his wisdom.

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