Font Size
Sirach 20:1-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Sirach 20:1-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Silence and Speech
20 There is a rebuke that is untimely,
and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.(A)
2 How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!(B)
3 And the one who admits his fault will be kept from ridicule.(C)
4 Like a eunuch lusting to violate a young woman
is the person who makes decisions under compulsion.(D)
5 Some people keep silent and are found[a] to be wise,
while others are detested for being talkative.(E)
6 Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,
while others keep silent because they know when to speak.(F)
7 The wise remain silent until the right moment,
but the arrogant and the fool miss the right moment.(G)
8 Whoever talks too much is detested,
and whoever pretends to authority is hated.[b](H)
Paradoxes
9 There may be good fortune for a person in adversity,
and a windfall may result in a loss.
10 There is the gift that profits you nothing
and the gift to be paid back double.
11 There are losses for the sake of glory,
and there are some who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.(I)
12 Some buy much for little
but pay for it seven times over.
13 The wise make themselves beloved by only few words,[c]
but the courtesies of fools are wasted.(J)
14 A fool’s gift will profit you nothing,[d]
for he looks for recompense sevenfold.[e]
15 He gives little and insults much;
he opens his mouth like a town crier.
Today he lends, and tomorrow he asks it back;
such a one is hateful.[f](K)
16 The fool says, “I have no friends,
and I get no thanks for my good deeds.”
Those who eat his bread are evil-tongued.
17 How many will ridicule him, and how often![g]
Inappropriate Speech
18 A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
the downfall of the wicked will occur just as speedily.(L)
19 A coarse person is like an inappropriate story,
continually on the lips of the ignorant.(M)
20 A proverb from a fool’s lips will be rejected,
for he does not tell it at the proper time.(N)
Footnotes
- 20.5 Gk: Heb thought
- 20.8 Other ancient authorities add How good it is to show repentance when you are reproved, for so you will escape deliberate sin!
- 20.13 Heb: Gk by words
- 20.14 Other ancient authorities add so it is with the envious who give under compulsion
- 20.14 Syr: Gk he has many eyes instead of one
- 20.15 Other ancient authorities add to God and humans
- 20.17 Other ancient authorities add for he has not honestly received what he has, and what he does not have is unimportant to him
Acts 18:24-19:7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 18:24-19:7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ministry of Apollos
24 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos from Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures.(A) 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.(B) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers,(C) 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah[a] is Jesus.(D)
Paul in Ephesus
19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.(E) 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 Then he said, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.”(F) 4 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, in Jesus.”(G) 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied,(H) 7 altogether there were about twelve of them.
Footnotes
- 18.28 Or the Christ
Acts 18:24-19:7
New International Version
Acts 18:24-19:7
New International Version
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(A) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(B) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a](C) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(D) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(E) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(F) the brothers and sisters(G) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(H) that Jesus was the Messiah.(I)
Paul in Ephesus
19 While Apollos(J) was at Corinth,(K) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.(L) There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit(M) when[b] you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism(N) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(O) 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(P) 6 When Paul placed his hands on them,(Q) the Holy Spirit came on them,(R) and they spoke in tongues[c](S) and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Footnotes
- Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
- Acts 19:2 Or after
- Acts 19:6 Or other languages
Sirach 20:21-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Sirach 20:21-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
21 One may be prevented from sinning by poverty,
so when he rests he feels no remorse.(A)
22 One may lose his life through shame
or lose it because of a foolish person.[a](B)
23 One may make promises to a friend out of shame
and so make an enemy for nothing.
Lying
24 A lie is an ugly blot on a person;
it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.(C)
25 A thief is preferable to a habitual liar,
but both will inherit ruin.
26 The character of liars leads to disgrace,
and their shame is ever with them.
Proverbial Sayings[b]
27 Wise persons advance themselves by their words,
and those who are sensible please the great.(D)
28 Those who cultivate the soil heap up their harvest,
and those who please the great atone for injustice.(E)
29 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise;
like a muzzle on the mouth they stop reproofs.(F)
30 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure—
of what value is either?(G)
31 Better are those who hide their folly
than those who hide their wisdom.[c](H)
Acts 19:8-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 19:8-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.(A) 9 When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.[a](B) 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.(C)
The Sons of Sceva
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,(D) 12 so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.(E) 13 Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”(F) 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit said to them in reply, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.(G) 18 Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. 19 A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books[b] was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.(H)
Read full chapter
Acts 19:8-20
New International Version
Acts 19:8-20
New International Version
8 Paul entered the synagogue(A) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.(B) 9 But some of them(C) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.(D) So Paul left them. He took the disciples(E) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years,(F) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia(G) heard the word of the Lord.(H)
11 God did extraordinary miracles(I) through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured(J) and the evil spirits left them.
13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits(K) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus(L) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,(M) they were all seized with fear,(N) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[a] 20 In this way the word of the Lord(O) spread widely and grew in power.(P)
Footnotes
- Acts 19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.