Sirach 5
Good News Translation
Don't Be Presumptuous
5 Don't rely on money to make you independent. 2 Don't think you have to have everything you want, and then spend your energy trying to get it. 3 Don't think that no one can exercise authority over you; if you do, the Lord is certain to punish you. 4 (A)Don't think that you can sin and get away with it; the Lord does not mind waiting to punish you. 5 Don't be so certain of the Lord's forgiveness that you go on committing one sin after another. 6 Don't think that his mercy is so great that he will forgive your sins no matter how many they are. He does show mercy, but he also shows his furious anger with sinners. 7 Come back to the Lord quickly. Don't think that you can keep putting it off. His anger can come upon you suddenly, and you will die under his punishment. 8 Don't rely on dishonest wealth; it will do you no good on that day of disaster.
Sincerity and Self-control
9-10 Be certain about what you believe and consistent in what you say. Don't try to please everyone or agree with everything people say.[a] 11 Always be ready to listen, but take your time in answering. 12 Answer only if you know what to say, and if you don't know what to say, keep quiet. 13 Speaking can bring you either honor or disgrace; what you say can ruin you.
14 Don't get a reputation for being a gossip, and don't tell tales that will hurt people. Just as robbers will suffer disgrace, so liars will suffer severe condemnation. 15 Do nothing destructive,[b] whether it seems insignificant or not,
Footnotes
- Sirach 5:9 Hebrew everything people say; Greek adds That is what double-tongued sinners do.
- Sirach 5:15 Hebrew Do nothing destructive; Greek Do not be ignorant in anything.
Sirach 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Precepts for Everyday Living
5 Do not rely on your wealth
or say, “I have enough.”(A)
2 Do not follow your inclination and strength
in pursuing the desires of your heart.(B)
3 Do not say, “Who can have power over me?”
for the Lord will surely punish you.(C)
4 Do not say, “I sinned, yet what has happened to me?”
for the Lord is slow to anger.(D)
5 Do not be so confident of forgiveness[a]
that you add sin to sins.(E)
6 Do not say, “His mercy is great;
he will forgive[b] the multitude of my sins,”
for both mercy and wrath are with him,
and his anger will rest on sinners.(F)
7 Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,
and do not postpone it from day to day,
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come forth,
and at the time of punishment you will perish.(G)
8 Do not rely on dishonest wealth,
for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.(H)
9 Do not winnow in every wind
or follow every path.[c]
10 Stand firm in what you know,
and let your speech be consistent.
11 Be quick to hear,
and utter a reply patiently.(I)
12 If you understand, answer your neighbor,
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.(J)
Ben Sira 5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 5
Against Presumption[a]
1 Do not rely on your wealth,
or say, “I have the power.”(A)
2 Do not rely on your strength
in following the desires of your heart.
3 Do not say, “Who can prevail against me?”
for the Lord will exact punishment.
4 Do not say, “I have sinned, yet what has happened to me?”
for the Lord is slow to anger!
5 Do not be so confident of forgiveness
that you add sin upon sin.
6 Do not say, “His mercy is great;
my many sins he will forgive.”
For mercy and anger alike are with him;
his wrath comes to rest on the wicked.
7 Do not delay turning back to the Lord,
do not put it off day after day.
For suddenly his wrath will come forth;
at the time of vengeance, you will perish.
8 Do not rely on deceitful wealth,
for it will be no help on the day of wrath.(B)
Use and Abuse of the Tongue[b]
9 Do not winnow in every wind,
nor walk in every path.[c]
10 Be steadfast regarding your knowledge,
and let your speech be consistent.
11 Be swift to hear,
but slow to answer.(C)
12 If you can, answer your neighbor;
if not, place your hand over your mouth!
13 Honor and dishonor through speaking!
The tongue can be your downfall.
14 Do not be called double-tongued;
and with your tongue do not slander a neighbor.
For shame has been created for the thief,
and sore disgrace for the double-tongued.
15 In little or in much, do not act corruptly;
Footnotes
- 5:1–8 The vices of the rich are pride and independence (vv. 1–2), presumption (v. 3), false security (vv. 4–6), and impenitence (v. 7), which cannot escape the divine wrath (vv. 7–8). Cf. Prv 18:23; 19:1; 28:6.
- 5:9–6:1 Proper use of the tongue requires constancy in speech (v. 10), prudence (vv. 11–12), good judgment (v. 13), charity (5:15; 6:1); detraction, calumny (v. 14), and double-talk bring shame and disgrace (5:14; 6:1).
- 5:9 The metaphors indicate careless behavior.
Sirach 5
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Precepts for Everyday Living
5 Do not rely on your wealth,
or say, ‘I have enough.’
2 Do not follow your inclination and strength
in pursuing the desires of your heart.
3 Do not say, ‘Who can have power over me?’
for the Lord will surely punish you.
4 Do not say, ‘I sinned, yet what has happened to me?’
for the Lord is slow to anger.
5 Do not be so confident of forgiveness[a]
that you add sin to sin.
6 Do not say, ‘His mercy is great,
he will forgive[b] the multitude of my sins’,
for both mercy and wrath are with him,
and his anger will rest on sinners.
7 Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,
and do not postpone it from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you,
and at the time of punishment you will perish.
8 Do not depend on dishonest wealth,
for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.
9 Do not winnow in every wind,
or follow every path.[c]
10 Stand firm for what you know,
and let your speech be consistent.
11 Be quick to hear,
but deliberate in answering.
12 If you know what to say, answer your neighbour;
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.
13 Honour and dishonour come from speaking,
and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.
14 Do not be called double-tongued[d]
and do not lay traps with your tongue;
for shame comes to the thief,
and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.
15 In great and small matters cause no harm,[e]
Footnotes
- Sirach 5:5 Heb: Gk atonement
- Sirach 5:6 Heb: Gk he (or it) will atone for
- Sirach 5:9 Gk adds so it is with the double-tongued sinner (see 6.1)
- Sirach 5:14 Heb: Gk a slanderer
- Sirach 5:15 Heb Syr: Gk be ignorant
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