Sirach 20 — WBMS
20Verse 1There is false reproving in the ire of a man full of despising [or There is lying correction in wrath of the wrongful]; and there is doom which is not proved to be good; and there is a still man, and he is prudent.Verse 2It is full good to reprove, more than to be wroth, and to forbid not a man acknowledging in prayer.Verse 3The covetousness [or lust] of a gelding hath defouled [or deflowered] the maidenhood of a young woman, so he that maketh wicked doom by violence [or so he that doeth by force wicked doom].Verse 4It is full good, that a man that is reproved, show openly penance [or How good it is, the chastised to show penance]; for so thou shalt escape willful sin.Verse 5There is a still man, which is found wise; and he that is hateful, which is fool-hardy [or greedy] to speak.Verse 6Soothly there is a still man, not having wit of speech; and there is a still man, knowing the season of covenable time.Verse 7A wise man shall be still till to the right time; but a jolly man [or the reckless, or wild] and an unprudent man shall not keep time.Verse 8He that useth many words, hurteth his soul; and he that taketh power to himself unjustly [or wrong-fully], shall be hated.Verse 9There is going forth in evils to a man unlearned [or undisciplined]; and there is finding into impairing [or into harm].Verse 10There is a gift, which is not profit-able; and there is a gift, whose yielding is double.Verse 11There is making less for glory; and there is a man, which shall raise the head from meekness.Verse 12There is a man, that again-buyeth many sins[or things] for little price, and restoreth those [or them] in sevenfold.Verse 13A wise man in words maketh himself amiable [or lovable]; but the graces of fools shall be shed [or poured] out.Verse 14The gift of an unwise man shall not be profitable to thee; for his eyes be sevenfold, that is, his intent is manyfold and diverse.Verse 15He shall give little things [or Few things he shall give], and he shall upbraid many things; and the opening of his mouth is enflaming. Today a man lendeth, and tomorrow he asketh for[it]; and such a man is hateful.Verse 16A friend shall not be to a fool, and grace shall not be to his goods. For they that eat his bread, be of false tongue, that is, flatterers praising his follies;Verse 17how often, and how many men shall scorn him? For he parteth [or dealed] not by even wit that, that was worthy to be had; in like manner and that, that was not worthy to be had.Verse 18The falling [or sliding] of a false tongue is as he that falleth in the pavement; so the falls of evil men shall come hastily.Verse 19A man without grace is as a vain fable; and it shall be customable in the mouth of unlearned men. [An unkind man as a vain fable; and it shall be often in the mouth of the undisciplined.]Verse 20A parable, that is, a true sentence and great, shall be reproved when it cometh out of the mouth of a fool; for he saith not it [or he saith it not] in his time.Verse 21There is a man, that is forbidden to do sin, for poverty; and he shall not be pricked in his rest.Verse 22There is a man, that shall lose his soul for shame; and for the un-prudence of a person he shall lose it. Forsooth he shall lose himself for the taking or favouring of a person.Verse 23There is a man, that for shame promiseth to a friend; and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause.Verse 24Leasing is a wicked shame in a man; and it shall be customably [or busily] in the mouth of unlearned men [or the undisciplined].Verse 25Better, that is, less evil, is a thief than the customableness of a man, a leasing-monger [or a liar]; forsooth both they shall inherit perdition.Verse 26The manners of men leasing-mongers [or liars]be without honour; and their shame is with them without ceasing.Verse 27A wise man in words shall bring forth himself; and a prudent man shall please great men.Verse 28He that worketh his land, shall make high the heap of fruits; and he that worketh rightfulness [or right-wiseness], shall be enhanced. Soothly he that pleaseth great men, shall escape wickedness.Verse 29Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges; and as one dumb in the mouth it [or he] turneth away the chastisings of them.Verse 30Wisdom hid, and treasure unseen, what profit is in ever either?Verse 31He is better, that hideth his unwisdom, than a man that hideth his wisdom.Verse 32(This verse is omitted in the original text.)