Sirach 22
Good News Translation
Laziness and Foolishness
1-2 Lazy people are no better than dung; they are repulsive, and no one wants to get near them.
3 It is a disgrace to a father to have an undisciplined child, especially if it is a daughter. 4 A sensible daughter will get a husband, but a shameless daughter brings her father grief. 5 A girl with no sense of propriety will disgrace both her husband and her father; neither will have any respect for her.
6 Lecturing your children can sometimes be as out of place as singing to people in mourning, but a whipping is a wise choice of discipline at any time.
7 Trying to teach a fool is like gluing a broken pot back together, like waking someone out of a deep sleep. 8 Explaining something to a fool is like explaining it to a sleepy person; when you have finished, he'll say,
What was that again?[a]
11 We mourn for the dead because they have no access to light. We ought to mourn for fools, because they have no access to intelligence. In fact, we should go into deeper mourning for fools, because the life they lead is worse than death. The dead are at least at rest. 12 (A)For seven days we mourn the dead, but a foolish or ungodly person causes a lifetime of grief.
13 Don't visit stupid people or spend a lot of time talking with them. Avoid them; then they can't contaminate you, and you can live in peace without being troubled or worn down by their foolishness. 14 Such people are a heavier burden to bear than lead; and the only word that fits them is
fools. 15 It is easier to carry a load of sand, salt, and iron than to put up with a stupid person.
16 A wooden beam can be put into a building so firmly that an earthquake cannot shake it loose; a person can be trained to use reason and good sense so well that he keeps his head when a crisis comes. 17 A mind that thinks things through intelligently is like a firm wall, finely decorated. 18 Small stones on top of a wall[b] will not stay put when the wind blows, and a person whose stupid ideas have made him timid will not be able to stand up to frightening situations.
Friendship
19 If you stick something in your eye, tears will flow; and if you hurt a person deeply, you will discover his true feelings. 20 If you throw rocks at birds, you will scare them away; and if you insult a friend, you will break up the friendship. 21-22 Even if you have a violent argument with a friend, and speak sharply, all is not lost. You can still make up with him. But any friend will leave you if you insult him, if you are arrogant, if you reveal his secrets, or if you turn on him unexpectedly.
23 Gain the confidence of your neighbor if he is poor; then you can share his happiness if he becomes successful. Stand by him when he is in trouble if you want to share with him when better times come his way.
24 Fumes and smoke appear before the flames do; insults come before violence.
25 I will never be afraid to protect a friend, and I will never turn a friend away if he needs me. 26 If I suffer because of him, everyone who learns of it will be on guard against him.
A Prayer for Help against Sin
27 I wish that a guard could be placed at my mouth, that my lips could be wisely sealed. It would keep me from making mistakes and prevent me from destroying myself with my own tongue!
Footnotes
- Sirach 22:8 Some manuscripts add verses 9-10: Children who are brought up well do not show the humble origin of their parents. 10 Children who are not brought up well, who are arrogant and conceited, are a stain on the noblest family.
- Sirach 22:18 Small...wall; some manuscripts have A fence on top of a hill.
Sirach 22
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
22 The 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?
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