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Wisdom of Ben Sira 18:18-20
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 18:18-20
New Catholic Bible
18 A fool offers nothing but insult,
and a gift given begrudgingly dims the expectant eyes.
Know How To Reflect and Foresee[a]
19 Be fully informed before you speak;
before you fall sick, take care of your health.
20 Before judgment comes, examine yourself,
and at your hour of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.[b]
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 18:19 The ancients regarded sickness as a punishment for sin. Living a good life gave some assurance of escaping sickness and of avoiding the threat of a premature death. In this and in other things, the sage is concerned with a prudent way of acting.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 18:20 One way of obtaining forgiveness mentioned often in Scripture is by giving alms (see Sir 3:30-31; 29:1; Tob 12:12-13; Dan 4:24; Lk 16:9; Acts 10:31).
