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Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 22
Sir
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Chapter 22
The idler
1
An idler is comparable to a stone covered in filth, everyone whistles at his disgrace.
2
An idler is comparable to a lump of dung, anyone picking it up shakes it off his hand.
Degenerate children
3
It is a disgrace to have fathered a badly brought-up son, and the birth of a daughter is a loss.
4
A sensible daughter is a treasure to her husband, but a shameless one is a grief to her father.
5
An insolent daughter puts father and mother to shame, and will be disowned by both.
6
An untimely remonstrance is like music at a funeral, but a thrashing and correction are wisdom at all times.
Wisdom and folly
9
You are gluing the broken pieces of a pot together if you try to teach a fool, you are rousing a man who is besotted with sleep.
10
A fool is the same as a drowsing man if you have to explain anything to him, when you have finished he will say, ‘What is it all about?’
11
Shed tears for the dead man, since he has left the light behind; shed tears for the fool, since he has left his wits behind; Shed quieter tears for the dead, since he is at rest. For the fool, life is sadder than death.
12
Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, for the foolish and ungodly all the days of their lives.
13
Do not waste many words on a stupid man, do not go near a dolt. Beware of him, or he will give you trouble; and will leave you soiled by contact with him. Avoid him, and you will find rest and not be exasperated by his folly.
14
What is heavier than lead, and what is its name if not ‘fool’?
15
Sand, and salt, and a lump of iron are all easier to bear than a dolt.
16
A tie-beam bonded into a building will not be dislodged by an earthquake; so too, a heart resolved after due reflection will not flinch at the critical moment.
17
A heart founded on intelligent reflection is like a stucco decoration on a smooth wall.
18
Pebbles placed on top of a wall will not stand up to the wind; no more can the heart of a fool frightened at his own thoughts stand up to fear.
Friendship
19
Prick an eye and you will draw a tear, prick a heart and you bring its feelings to light.
20
Throw stones at birds and you scare them away, revile a friend and you break up friendship.
21
If you have drawn your sword on a friend, do not despair; there is a way back.
22
If you have opened your mouth against your friend, do not worry; there is hope for reconciliation; but insult, arrogance, betrayal of secrets, and the stab in the back – in these cases any friend will run away.
23
Win your neighbour’s confidence when he is poor, so that you may enjoy his later good fortune with him; stand by him in times of trouble, in order to have your share when he comes into a legacy.
24
Fire is heralded by the reek of the furnace and smoke, so too bloodshed by insults.
25
I will not be ashamed to shelter a friend, nor will I hide from his face;
26
and if evil comes to me through him, everyone who hears about it will beware of him.
Vigilance
27
Who will set a guard on my mouth, and a seal of prudence on my lips to keep me from falling, and my tongue from causing my ruin?
Chapters of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
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