Sirach 5 — WEBC
5Verse 1Don’t set your heart upon your goods.Don’t say, “They are sufficient for me.”Verse 2Don’t follow your own mind and your strengthto walk in the desires of your heart.Verse 3Don’t say, “Who will have dominion over me?”for the Lord will surely take vengeance on you.Verse 4Don’t say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?”for the Lord is patient.Verse 5Don’t be so confident of atonementthat you add sin upon sins.Verse 6Don’t say, “His compassion is great.He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins,”
for mercy and wrath are with him,
and his indignation will rest on sinners.Verse 7Don’t wait to turn to the Lord.Don’t put off from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come on you,
and you will perish in the time of vengeance.Verse 8Don’t set your heart upon unrighteous gains,for you will profit nothing in the day of calamity.Verse 9Don’t winnow with every wind.Don’t walk in every path.
This is what the sinner who has a double tongue does.Verse 10Be steadfast in your understanding.Let your speech be consistent.Verse 11Be swift to hearand answer with patience.Verse 12If you have understanding, answer your neighbor;but if not, put your hand over your mouth.Verse 13Glory and dishonor is in talk.A man’s tongue may be his downfall.Verse 14Don’t be called a whisperer.Don’t lie in wait with your tongue;
for shame is on the thief,
and an evil condemnation is on him who has a double tongue.Verse 15Don’t be ignorant in a great or small matter.
for mercy and wrath are with him,
and his indignation will rest on sinners.Verse 7Don’t wait to turn to the Lord.Don’t put off from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come on you,
and you will perish in the time of vengeance.Verse 8Don’t set your heart upon unrighteous gains,for you will profit nothing in the day of calamity.Verse 9Don’t winnow with every wind.Don’t walk in every path.
This is what the sinner who has a double tongue does.Verse 10Be steadfast in your understanding.Let your speech be consistent.Verse 11Be swift to hearand answer with patience.Verse 12If you have understanding, answer your neighbor;but if not, put your hand over your mouth.Verse 13Glory and dishonor is in talk.A man’s tongue may be his downfall.Verse 14Don’t be called a whisperer.Don’t lie in wait with your tongue;
for shame is on the thief,
and an evil condemnation is on him who has a double tongue.Verse 15Don’t be ignorant in a great or small matter.