Sirach 19
A person who indulges in excessive drinking and immorality will not prosper, and those who associate with the wicked will suffer consequences. One should be cautious in sharing personal thoughts and secrets, as even friends may betray trust. It is essential to correct others gently and not to believe every word spoken. True wisdom comes from fearing God and following the law, rather than relying on human intelligence or cunning. A person's character can be discerned from their appearance and behavior, and it is often better to remain silent than to speak impulsively or deceitfully.
1An inebriated worker will not be wealthy. And whoever despises littleness will fall a little at a time2Wine and women cause wise men to fall away, and then they will complain against those who understand3And whoever joins himself to fornicators will become wicked. Decay and worms will inherit him, and he will be denounced as the greater example, and his soul will be deducted from the number4Whoever is quick to believe has a trivial heart and will be diminished. And whoever offends against his own soul will have even less5Whoever rejoices in iniquity will be condemned. And whoever hates correction will have less in life. But whoever hates excessive talk extinguishes evil6Whoever sins against his own soul will be punished. And whoever rejoices in malice will be condemned7You should not repeat a wicked and harsh word, and then you will not be diminished8Do not reveal your mind to friend or foe. And if there is a sin within you, do not disclose it9For he will listen to you and watch you, and while pretending to defend your sin, he will despise you, and so he will be whenever he is with you10Have you heard a word against your neighbor? Let it die within you, trusting that it will not burst forth from you11Before the face of a word, a foolish man labors, like a woman groaning as she gives birth to a child12Like an arrow fixed in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word in the heart of a foolish man13Correct a friend, though perhaps there was a misunderstanding, and he may say, "I did not do it." Or, if he did do it, correct him, so that he may not do it again14Correct your neighbor, for perhaps he did not say it. But if he did say it, correct him, so that he may not say it again15Correct your friend. For often a fault has been committed16And do not believe every word. There is one who slips with his word, but not with his heart17For who is there who has not offended with his words? Correct your neighbor before you reprimand him18And make a place for the fear of the Most High. For all wisdom is fear of God, and it is wise to fear God, and in all wisdom is the orderly disposition of the law19But the discipline of wickedness is not wisdom. And there is no prudence in the thoughts of sinners20There is a wickedness, and in it there is abomination. And there is a foolish man who has been diminished in wisdom21Better is a man who has been diminished in wisdom because his mind is failing, but with the fear of God, than he who abounds in intelligence, but with transgression against the law of the Most High22There is a certain cleverness, and it is unjust23And there is one who utters a careful word, explaining away the truth. There is one who humbles himself wickedly, for his interior is filled with deceit24And there is one who lowers himself excessively with a great debasement. And there is one who inclines his face downward, and pretends as if he did not see what has not been made known25And if he is prevented from sinning by a lack of ability, and then finds an opportunity for evildoing, he will do evil26A man is recognized by his appearances. But when you meet an understanding man, he is recognized by his face27The clothing of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the walk of a man, give a report about him28There is a lying correction in the anger of a contemptuous man. And there is a judgment which does not prove to be good. But there is one who is silent, and the same is prudent
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