Sirach 19

1 A drunken worker will not become rich, and whoever despises small things will fall little by little.

2 Wine and women lead understanding people astray, and whoever clings to prostitutes becomes shameless.

3 Decay and worms will inherit him, and a reckless soul will be swept away.

4 Whoever is quick to trust is light-minded, and whoever sins harms his own soul.

5 Whoever delights in his own heart will be condemned.

6 Whoever hates gossip will suffer less evil.

7 Do not repeat what has been told to you, and you will suffer no harm.

8 Do not repeat a matter to friend or enemy, and unless silence itself would be sinful, do not reveal it.

9 The person heard you and took note of you, and at the proper time he will hate you.

10 If you have heard a word, let it die with you. Take courage—it will not make you burst.

11 A word makes a fool labor like a woman giving birth.

12 An arrow lodged in a person’s thigh is like a word inside a fool’s belly.

13 Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it. If he did, make sure he does not do it again.

14 Question your neighbor; perhaps he did not say it. If he did, make sure he does not say it again.

15 Question a friend, for a report is often slander. Do not believe every story.

16 Someone may slip in speech without meaning it from the heart. Who has never sinned with the tongue?

17 Question your neighbor before threatening him, and give the law of the Most High its proper place.

18 The fear of the Lord is the first step toward acceptance by him, and wisdom gains his love.

19 Knowledge of the Lord’s commands is instruction for life, and those who do what pleases him will receive fruit from the tree of immortality.

20 All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and every expression of wisdom includes practicing the law.

21 If a servant tells his master, “I will not do what pleases you,” he angers the one who feeds him even if he does it afterward.

22 Knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, and the counsel of sinners is never good sense.

23 There is a cunning that is itself a detestable thing, and there is a fool who simply lacks wisdom.

24 Someone with little understanding who fears God is better than someone rich in good sense who breaks the law.

25 There is precise cunning that is unjust, and there is someone who distorts a case to make a favorable judgment appear right.

26 A wicked person may bow his head in gloom while his inner being is full of deceit.

27 He hides his face and pretends not to hear; where he is not recognized, he will take you by surprise.

28 If lack of strength prevents him from sinning, he will still do evil when he finds an opportunity.

29 A man can be recognized by his appearance, and an understanding person by his face when you meet him.

30 A person’s clothing, toothy laughter, and manner of walking reveal what he is like.