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Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:11-13
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:11-13
New Catholic Bible
11 Be quick to listen
but deliberate in offering your answer.
12 If you have understanding, reply to your neighbor,
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.[a]
13 Both honor and dishonor can result from speaking;
the tongue[b] can be the cause of a person’s downfall.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:12 Put your hand over your mouth: a graphic expression to indicate one should keep silent inasmuch as one has no competency to speak.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:13 The tongue: The author will return frequently to the theme of the use and abuse of the tongue (Sir 19:6-17; 20:17-20; 22:27—23:15; 28:13-26).
