Sirach 22
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1A Slothful man is like a filthie stone, which euerie man mocketh at for his shame. 2A slothful man is to be compared to the dongue of oxen, & euerie one that taketh it vp, wil shake it out of his hand. 3An euil nurtered sonne is the dishonour of the father: & the daughter is least to be estemed. 4A wise daughter is an heritage vnto her housband: but she that liueth dishonestly, is her fathers heauines. 5She that is bolde, dishonoreth bothe her father and her housband, [and is not inferior to the vngodlie,] but they bothe shal dispise her. 6A tale out of time is as musicke in mourning: but wisdome knoweth the seasons of correction and doctrine. 7Who so teacheth a foole, is as one that gleweth a potcherde together, and as he that waketh one that slepeth, from a sounde slepe. 8If children liue honestly, & haue wherewith, they shal put away the shame of their parents. 9But if children be proude, with hautines and foolishnes they defile the nobilitie of their kinred. 10Who so telleth a foole of wisdome, is as a man, which speaketh to one that is a slepe: when he hathe tolde his tale, he saith, What is the matter? 11Wepe for the dead, for he hathe lost the light: so wepe for the foole, for he wanteth vnderstanding: make smale weping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the foole is worse then the death. 12Seuen dayes do men mourne for him that is dead: but the lamentacion for the foole, & vngodlie [shulde endure] all the dayes of their life. 13Talke not muche with a foole, & go not to him that hathe no vnderstanding: beware of him, lest it turne thee to paine, and lest thou be defiled when he shaketh him self. Departe from him, & thou shalt finde rest, and shalt not receiue sorowe by his foolishnes. 14What is heauier then lead? and what other name shulde a foole haue? 15Sand and salt, and a lumpe of yron is easier to beare, then an vnwise, [foolish and vngodlie man.] 16As a frame of wood ioyned together in a buylding can not be losed with shaking, so the heart that is stablished by aduised counsel, shal feare at no time. 17The heart that is confirmed by discrete wisdome, is as a faire plaistering on a plaine wall. 18As reedes that are set vp on hie, can not abide the winde, so the fearcful heart with foolish imaginacion can indure no feare. 19He that hurteth the eye, bringeth forthe teares, & he that hurteth the heart, bringeth forthe the affection. 20Who so casteth a stone at the birdes, fraieth them away: & he that vpbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship. 21Thogh thou drewest a sworde at thy friend, yet dispaire not: for there may be a returning to fauour. 22If thou haue opened thy mouth against thy friend, feare not: for there may be a reconcilation, so that vpbraiding or pride or disclosing of secrets or a traiterous wounde do not let: for by these things euerie friend wil departe. 23Be faithful vnto thy friend in his pouertie, that thou maist reioyce in his prosperitie. Abide stedfast vnto him in the time of his trouble, that thou maist be heire with him in his heritage: for pouertie is not alwayes to be contemned, nor the riche that is foolish, to be had in admiration. 24As the vapour, and smoke of the chimnay goeth before the fyre, so euil wordes, [rebukes & threatenings] go before bloodsheding. 25I wil not be ashamed to defende a friend: nether wil I hide my self from him, thogh he shulde do me harme: whosoeuer heareth it, shal beware of him. 26Who shal set a watch before my mouth, and a seale of wisdome vpon my lippes, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroye me not?
Chapters in Sirach