Sirach 20
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1THere is some rebuke that is not comelie: againe, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise. 3As when a gelded man thorowe lust wolde defile a maide, so is he that vseth violence in iudgement. 4How good a thing is it, when thou art reproued, to shewe repentance! for so shalt thou escape wilful sinne. 5Some man kepeth silence, and is founde wise, and some by muche babling becometh hateful. 6Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hathe not to answere: and some kepeth silence, waiting a conuenient time. 7A wise man wil holde his tongue til he se opportunitie: but a trifler & a foole wil regarde no time. 8He that vseth manie wordes, shalbe abhorred, and he that taketh autoritie to him self, shalbe hated. 9Some man hathe oft times prosperitie in wicked things, and some time a thing that is founde, bringeth losse. 10There is some gift that is not profitable for thee, and there is some gift, whose rewarde is double. 11Some man humbleth him self for glories sake, and some by humblenes lifteth vp the head. 12Some man byeth muche for a litle price: for the which he payeth seuen times more. 13A wise man with his wordes maketh him self to be loued, but the mery tales of fooles shal be powred out. 14The gift receiued of a foole, shal do thee no good, nether yet of the enuious for his importunitie: for he loketh to receiue manie things for one: he giueth litle, & he vpbraideth muche: he openeth his mouthe like a towne crier: to day he lendeth, to morowe asketh he againe, and suche one is to be hated of God and man. 15The foole saith, I haue no friend: I haue no thanke for all my good dedes: and they that eat my bread, speake euil of me. 16How oft, and of how manie shal he be laughed to scorne? for he comprehendeth not by right iudgement that which he hath: & it is all one as thogh he had it not. 17The fall on a pauement is verie sudden: so shal the fall of the wicked come hastely. 18A man without grace is as a foolish tall which is oft tolde by the mouthe of the ignorant. 19A wise sentence loseth grace when it cometh out of a fooles mouthe: for he speaketh not in due season. 20Some man sinneth not because of pouertie, and yet is not grieued when he is alone. 21Some man there is that destroyeth his owne soule, because he is ashamed, and for the regarde of persones loseth it. 22Some man promiseth vnto his friend for shame, and getteth an enemie of him for naught. 23A lie is a wicked shame in a man: yet is it oft in the mouth of the vnwise. 24A thief is better, then a man that is accustomed to lye: but they bothe shal haue destruction to heritage. 25The condicions of liers are vnhonest, and their shame is euer with them. 26A wise man shal bring him self to honor with his wordes, and he that hathe vnderstanding, shal please great men. 27He that tilleth his land, shal increase his heape: [he that worketh righteousnes, shalbe exalted,] and he that pleaseth great men, shal haue pardon of his iniquitie. 28Rewardes and giftes blinde the eyes of the wise, and make them domme, that they can not reproue fautes. 29Wisdome that is hid, and treasure that is horded vp, what profite is in them bothe? 30Better is he that kepeth his ignorance secret, then a man that hideth his wisdome. 31The necessarie pacience of him, that followeth the Lord, is better then he that gouerneth his life without the Lord.
Chapters in Sirach