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22 Unjust anger can never be justified;
    anger pulls a person to utter ruin.
23 [a]Until the right time, the patient remain calm,
    then cheerfulness comes back to them.
24 Until the right time they hold back their words;
    then the lips of many will tell of their good sense.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:23–24 Ben Sira pays close attention to kaīros, the right time, occurring some sixty times in his book.

22 Unjust anger cannot be justified,
    for anger tips the scale to one’s ruin.
23 Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment,
    and then cheerfulness comes back to them.
24 They hold back their words until the right moment;
    then the lips of many tell of their good sense.

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Self-control

22 There is no excuse for unjustified anger; it can bring about your downfall. 23 Wait and be patient, and later you will be glad you did. 24 Keep quiet until the right time to speak, and you will gain a reputation for good sense.

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'Sirach 1:22-24' not found for the version: New American Standard Bible.
'Sirach 1:22-24' not found for the version: New International Version.