The stupid and foolish
1 There are rebukes which are inopportune; there is the silence of a sensible man.
2 Better to rebuke than nurse a grudge.
3 He who recognizes his fault diminishes its consequences.
4 Like a eunuch desiring to violate a girl, such is he who uses force in pretending to be just.
5 One keeps silent and is thought to be wise, the other makes himself hated because of his gossiping.
6 One remains silent because he does not know how to reply; the other keeps quiet, wait ing for the right moment.
7 The wise man keeps silent until the right moment; the chatterer and fool speak out of turn.
8 He who speaks too much makes himself hated; he who wishes to impose himself stirs up ill will.
9 Man can turn his troubles to his ad vantage; a lucky chance can turn to loss.
10 There is a type of generosity which will not reward you and another which will repay you double.
11 One is humiliated for having had honors; another is humiliated, and then lifts up his head.
12 One buys much with little money; another pays seven times its value.
13 The wise man makes himself lovable through his words alone, while the favors of the fool are lost.
14 The fool’s gift is not to your advantage; he gives with greedy eyes.
15 He gives little but puts on a great outward appearance and exclaims for all to hear; he lends today and recovers the loan tomorrow; he is a despicable man.
16 The fool says, “I have no friends, no one welcomes my favors.
17 Those who eat my bread have evil tongues.” How often they will mock him, and by how many!
18 Better to stumble on the ground than to make a slip with the tongue; this is how easily the wicked fall.
19 The rough-mannered man is like an indiscreet story that ill-mannered people tell out of time.
20 The proverb told by a fool will fail, since he does not speak it at an appropriate time.
21 One keeps himself from sin because he does not have the means to act; when he gets the chance, he will have no remorse.
22 One loses his soul out of false shame; he loses himself for fear of what a foolish man thinks.
23 Out of false shame he wants to win a friend; he gets an enemy, in fact, for nothing.
24 Lying is a shameful defect in a man; fools are used to it.
25 Better to be a thief than a liar, yet both are heading for disaster.
26 Habitual lying is detestable; dis grace nev er leaves the liar.
27 The wise man’s words advance his cause; the shrewd man will gain favor with the powerful.
28 He who tills the earth increases his produce; he who pleases the great is forgiven his wickedness.
29 Presents and gifts blind a wise man’s eyes; like a muzzle they silence the conscientious.
30 Concealed wisdom and hidden treasure: what good are these?
31 The man who conceals his stupidity is better than one who conceals his wisdom.
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Comments Sirach, Chapter 20
• 20.1 We must avoid two errors: correction with anger, because we fall into excesses, and being resentful in silence, without letting off steam.