The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 22

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

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

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

4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband but she that liveth dishonestly is her ather’s heaviness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend yet despair not for there may be a returning to favour

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

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

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

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

26 And if any evil happen unto me by him every one that heareth 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