Sirach 22

¹The lazy man is pelted with a dirty stone, and all will speak about his rejection

²The lazy man is pelted with the dung of oxen, and all who touch him will brush off their hands

³An undisciplined son is the shame of his father, but an undisciplined daughter will be to his degradation

⁴A prudent daughter brings an inheritance to her husband. But she who causes shame will be a disgrace to him who conceived her

⁵She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and she will not be less offensive to the impious. For she will be held in dishonor by both

⁶An untimely explanation is like music in a time of mourning. But the sharp correction and doctrine of wisdom are ever timely

⁷Whoever teaches the foolish is like someone who glues together a broken pot

⁸Whoever explains a word to one who is not listening is like someone who suddenly awakens a sleeping person from a deep sleep

⁹Whoever explains wisdom to the senseless is like one speaking to a sleeping person. And at the end of the explanation, he says: “Who is this?

¹⁰Weep over the dead, for his light has failed. And weep over the foolish, for his understanding has failed

¹¹Weep only a little over the dead, for he is at rest

¹²But the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death

¹³The mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the foolish and the impious, it is all the days of their life

¹⁴You should not talk at length with the foolish, and you should not go with the senseless

¹⁵Keep yourself from him, so that you may not have problems, and so that you will not be polluted by his sin

¹⁶Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you will not be discouraged by his foolishness

¹⁷What is heavier than lead? And what else can he be called but foolish

¹⁸Sand, and salt, and an iron weight are each easier to bear than an imprudent man, who is both foolish and impious

¹⁹A bundle of wood strapped together in the foundation of a building will not be loosened. And similar is the heart that has been strengthened by thoughtful counsel

²⁰The thoughts of one who is understanding will not be corrupted by fear in any situation

²¹Just as chaff in a high place, or a wall made of mortar without stones set within, will not continue against the face of the wind

²²so also a timid heart, and the thoughts of the senseless, will not withstand the forcefulness of fear

²³Despite a cowardly heart, the thoughts of the foolish will not fear any situation; yet neither will one who continues always in the precepts of God

²⁴He who jabs an eye produces tears. And he who jabs the heart produces understanding

²⁵He who throws a stone at birds will drive them away. So also, he who accuses his friend dissolves the friendship

²⁶But if you have drawn a sword against a friend, you should not despair; for there may be a way back.

²⁷If you have opened a harsh mouth against a friend, you should not fear; for there may be a reconciliation. However, if there are accusations, or abuse, or arrogance, or the revealing of secrets, or a wound from deceitfulness, in all these cases, a friend will flee away

²⁸Hold to faithfulness with a friend in his poverty, so that you may also rejoice in his prosperity

²⁹In the time of his tribulation, remain faithful to him, so that you may also be an heir with him in his inheritance

³⁰Just as the steam from an oven, or the smoke from a fire, rises up before a flame, so also do curses and insults and threats rise up before bloodshed

³¹I shall not be ashamed to greet a friend, nor shall I hide myself from his face. And if misfortunes befall me because of him, I will endure

³²Anyone who hears of this will be wary around him

³³Who will provide a keeper for my mouth, and a reliable seal over my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and so that my tongue does not destroy me