Sirach 20:1-20
Revised Standard Version
Silence and Speech
20 There is a reproof which is not timely;
and there is a man who keeps silent but is wise.
2 How much better it is to reprove than to stay angry!
And the one who confesses his fault will be kept from loss.[a]
4 Like a eunuch’s desire to violate a maiden
is a man who executes judgments by violence.
5 There is one who by keeping silent is found wise,
while another is detested for being too talkative.
6 There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer,
while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak.
7 A wise man will be silent until the right moment,
but a braggart and fool goes beyond the right moment.
8 Whoever uses too many words will be loathed,
and whoever usurps the right to speak will be hated.
Paradoxes
9 There may be good fortune for a man in adversity,
and a windfall may result in a loss.
10 There is a gift that profits you nothing,
and there is a gift that brings a double return.
11 There are losses because of glory,
and there are men who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
12 There is a man who buys much for a little,
but pays for it seven times over.
13 The wise man makes himself beloved through his words,
but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
14 A fool’s gift will profit you nothing,
for he has many eyes instead of one.
15 He gives little and upbraids much,
he opens his mouth like a herald;
today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back;
such a one is a hateful man.
16 A fool will say, “I have no friend,
and there is no gratitude for my good deeds;
those who eat my bread speak unkindly.”
17 How many will ridicule him, and how often!
Inappropriate Speech
18 A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
so the downfall of the wicked will occur speedily.
19 An ungracious man is like a story told at the wrong time,
which is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
20 A proverb from a fool’s lips will be rejected,
for he does not tell it at its proper time.
Footnotes
- Sirach 20:2 Other authorities add 3 How good it is to show repentance when you are reproved, for so you will escape deliberate sin!
Acts 18:24-19:7
Revised Standard Version
Ministry of Apollos
24 Now a Jew named Apol′los, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aq′uila heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Acha′ia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Paul in Ephesus
19 While Apol′los was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve of them in all.
Sirach 20:21-31
Revised Standard Version
21 A man may be prevented from sinning by his poverty,
so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22 A man may lose his life through shame,
or lose it because of his foolish look.
23 A man may for shame make promises to a friend,
and needlessly make him an enemy.
Lying
24 A lie is an ugly blot on a man;
it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.
25 A thief is preferable to a habitual liar,
but the lot of both is ruin.
26 The disposition of a liar brings disgrace,
and his shame is ever with him.
Proverbial Sayings
27 He who speaks wisely will advance himself,
and a sensible man will please great men.
28 Whoever cultivates the soil will heap up his harvest,
and whoever pleases great men will atone for injustice.
29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise;
like a muzzle on the mouth they avert reproofs.
30 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure,
what advantage is there in either of them?
31 Better is the man who hides his folly
than the man who hides his wisdom.[a]
Footnotes
- Sirach 20:31 Other authorities add 32 Unwearied patience in seeking the Lord is better than a masterless charioteer of one’s own life.
Acts 19:8-20
Revised Standard Version
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God; 9 but when some were stubborn and disbelieved, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the hall of Tyran′nus.[a] 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
The Sons of Sceva
11 And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 19:9 Other ancient authorities add from the fifth hour to the tenth
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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