The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁸ Whether it be to friend or foe talk not of ot r men’s lives and if thou canst without offence reveal them not ⚑

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

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

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

¹² As an arrow that sticketh i a man’s thigh so is a word within fool’s belly ⚑

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

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

¹⁵ Admonish a friend for many times it is a slander and believe not every tale ⚑

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 ⚑

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

¹⁸ The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of him and wisdom obtaineth his love ⚑

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 ⚑

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 ⚑

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 ⚑

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

²³ There is a wickedness and the same an abomination and there is a fool wanting in 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 ⚑

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 ⚑

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

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 ⚑

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

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

³⁰ A man’s attire and excessive laughter and gait shew what he is ⚑