Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 5

¹ Do not give your heart to your money, or say, ‘With this I am self-sufficient’.

² Do not be led by your appetites and energy to follow the passions of your heart.

³ And do not say, ‘Who has authority over me?’ for the Lord will certainly be avenged on you.

⁴ Do not say, ‘I sinned, and what happened to me?’ for the Lord’s forbearance is long.

⁵ Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin.

⁶ And do not say, ‘His compassion is great, he will forgive me my many sins’; for with him are both mercy and wrath, and his rage bears heavy on sinners.

⁷ Do not delay your return to the Lord, do not put it off day after day; for suddenly the Lord’s wrath will blaze out, and at the time of vengeance you will be utterly destroyed.

⁸ Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains, they will be of no use to you on the day of disaster.

⁹ Do not winnow in every wind, or walk along every by-way (such is the practice of the deceitful sinner).

¹⁰ Be steady in your convictions, sincere in your speech.

¹¹ Be quick to listen, and deliberate in giving an answer.

¹² If you understand the matter, give your neighbour an answer, if not, put your hand over your mouth.

¹³ Both honour and disgrace come from talking, a man’s tongue can cause his downfall.

¹⁴ Do not get a name for scandal-mongering, do not set traps with your tongue; for as shame lies in store for the thief, so harsh condemnation awaits the deceitful.

¹⁵ Avoid offences in great as in small matters, and do not become an enemy where you should stay a friend;