English Bible
Sirach 22
Big screen- 1A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.
- 2A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.
- 3An evil-nurtured man is the dishonor of his father that became the father of him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
- 4A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that lives dishonestly is her father's heaviness.
- 5She that is bold dishonors both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.
- 6A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
- 7Whoso teaches a fool is as one that glues a potsherd together, and as he that wakes one from a sound sleep.
- 8He that tells a tale to a fool speaks to one in a slumber: when he has told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?
- 9If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.
- 10But children, being haughty, through disdain and lack of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.
- 11Weep for the dead, for he has lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he lacks understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.
- 12Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life.
- 13Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that has no understanding: beware of him, lest you have trouble, and you shall never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and you shall find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.
- 14What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?
- 15Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.
- 16As timber girded and bound together in a building can’t be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is established by advised counsel shall fear at no time.
- 17A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.
- 18Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool can’t stand against any fear.
- 19He that pricks the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricks the heart makes it to show her knowledge.
- 20Whoso casts a stone at the birds frays them away: and he that upbraids his friend breaks friendship.
- 21Though you drew a sword at your friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favor.
- 22If you have opened your mouth against your 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.
- 23Be faithful to your neighbor in his poverty, that you may rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast to him in the time of his trouble, that you may 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.
- 24As the vapor and smoke of a furnace goes before the fire; so reviling before blood.
- 25I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.
- 26And if any evil happen to me by him, every one that hears it will beware of him.
- 27Who 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?