Sirach 5
Do not seek wealth or power through unjust means, and do not become complacent or arrogant. God will vindicate with vengeance and punish sinners, so do not delay converting to the Lord or think that His mercy will overlook your sins. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, listen carefully, and respond wisely, lest you be caught by your own words and confounded.
1Do not choose to seek iniquitous possessions, and you should not say: "I have all I need in life." For it will be of no benefit to you in the time of retribution and darkness2You should not pursue, in your strength, the desires of your heart3And you should not say: "How powerful am I?" or, "Who will cast me down because of my deeds?" For God will vindicate with vengeance4You should not say, "I sinned, and what grief has befallen me?" For the Most High is a patient recompensor5Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin6And you should not say: "The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins.7For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners8You should not delay being converted to the Lord, and you should not set it aside from day to day9For his wrath will approach suddenly, and in the time of vindication, he will destroy you10Do not choose to be anxious for unjust wealth. For these things will not benefit you in the day of darkness and retribution11You should not winnow in every wind, and you should not go forth into every path. For so is every sinner proven by his duplicitous tongue12Be steadfast in the way of the Lord and in the truth of your understanding and knowledge, and let words of peace and justice overtake you13Be meek when listening to a word, so that you may understand. And offer a true response in wisdom14If you understand, then answer your neighbor. But if you do not, then let your hand be over your mouth, so that you are not caught by an inept word, and then confounded15Honor and glory are in the words of those who understand, yet truly, the tongue of the imprudent man is his undoing16You should not be called a whisperer, and you should not be caught by your own tongue, and then confounded17For confusion and remorse is upon a thief, and a wicked mark is upon the double-tongued; but for the whisperer, there is hatred and animosity and disgrace18Justify the small and the great similarly
Share this chapter