Ecclesiasticus 22

¹ A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled. Everyone will hiss at him in his disgrace.

² A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill. Anyone who picks it up will shake it out of his hand.

³ An undisciplined child is a disgrace to his father, and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.

⁴ A prudent daughter will inherit a husband of her own. She who brings shame is the grief of her father.

⁵ She who is arrogant brings shame on father and husband. She will be despised by both of them.

⁶ Ill-timed conversation is like music in mourning, but stripes and correction are wisdom in every season.

⁷ He who teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together, even like one who wakes a sleeper out of a deep sleep.

⁸ He who teaches a fool is as one who teaches a man who slumbers. In the end he will say, “What is it?”

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¹ TThe sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak of his disgrace.

² The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that toucheth him will shake his hands.

³ A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish daughter shall be to his loss.

⁴ A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father.

⁵ She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both.

⁶ A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time.

⁷ He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd together.

⁸ He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that waketh a man out of a deep sleep.

⁹ He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this?

¹⁰ Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the fool, for his understanding faileth.

¹¹ Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest.

¹² For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.

¹³ The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of their life.

¹⁴ Talk not much with a fool and go not with him that hath no sense.

¹⁵ Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sin.

¹⁶ Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be wearied out with his folly.

¹⁷ What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool?

¹⁸ Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man without sense, that is both foolish and wicked.

¹⁹ A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by advised counsel.

²⁰ The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be depraved by fear.

²¹ As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, will not stand against the face of the wind:

²² So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not resist against the violence of fear.

²³ As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the commandments of God.

²⁴ He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment.

²⁵ He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship.

²⁶ Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for there may be a returning. To a friend,

²⁷ If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a friend will flee away.

²⁸ Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his prosperity also thou mayst rejoice.

²⁹ In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance.

³⁰ As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, before blood.

³¹ I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear it.

³² But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him.

³³ Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?