Sirach 19

1A working man who is a drunk will not become wealthy, And he who despises small things will fail little by little.

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2Wine and women will draw away intelligent men, And he who joins himself to prostitutes shall become very reckless.

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3Decay and worms will inherit him, And his reckless soul will be carried away.

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4He who trusts quickly is unwise in heart, And he who sins will err against his own soul.

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5He who rejoices in evil shall be condemned,

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6And he who hates talkativeness will sin less.

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7Never repeat a word and you will lose nothing at all;

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8With friend or enemy, do not report it, And unless it is a sin for you, do not reveal it.

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9For someone heard you and watched you, And in time will hate you.

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10Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Take courage; it will not burst you.

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11But a fool will suffer birth-pangs because of such a word, Like a woman in labor with a child.

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12Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of a thigh, So is a word inside a fool.

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13Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it. And if he did something, perhaps he will not repeat it.

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14Question a neighbor; perhaps he did not say it. And if he did say it, may he not say it twice.

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15Question a friend, for often it is slander. So do not believe every word.

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16A person slips, but it was not his intention; For who has not sinned with his tongue?

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17Question your neighbor before you threaten him, And give place to the law of the Most High.

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18All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, And in all wisdom there is the doing of the Law.

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19Wisdom is not the knowledge of evil, Nor is there discernment in the counsel of sinners.

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20There is a cleverness that is an abomination, And there is a fool who is lacking in wisdom.

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21Better is a man who is afraid but lacks understanding, Than a man who abounds in discernment but transgresses the law.

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22There is a precise cleverness which itself is unjust; And there is one who is offensive that justice may be revealed.

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23There is an evildoer bowed down in mourning, But inwardly he is full of deceit.

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24He covers his face and pretends to be deaf, But when no one notices, he will take advantage of you.

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25If he is prevented from sinning because he lacks strength, When he later finds an opportunity, he will do evil.

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26A man will be known by his appearance, And a man of intelligence will be known By his countenance when you meet him.

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27The clothing of a man and the way he laughs and walks Give indication of who he is.

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