Sirach · Brenton's English Septuagint
Sirach 20 Brenton's English Septuagint
Notes on this text (2)
- Square brackets mark words Brenton supplied for English sense.
- Old Testament only (no New Testament). First printed 1844; the 1851 edition added the deuterocanonical books.
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise.
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2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly:
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3 and he that confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt.
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4 As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with violence.
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5 There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becometh hateful.
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6 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his time.
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7 A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.
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8 He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.
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9 There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss.
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10 There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.
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11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate.
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12 There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.
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13 A wise man by his words maketh himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
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14 The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive many things for one.
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15 He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth like a crier; to-day he lendeth, and to-morrow will he ask it again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.
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16 The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.
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17 How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn!
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18 To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
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19 An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
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20 A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.
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21 There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.
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22 There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.
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23 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.
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24 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.
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25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage.
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26 The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.
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27 A wise man shall promote himself [to honour] with his words: and he that hath understanding will please great men.
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28 He that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.
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29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove.
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30 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both?
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31 Better is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his wisdom.
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What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For he hath plenty, and is with her, but cannot satisfy all his desire; but the same result takes place as some wise man mentions; "The lust of eunuch to deflower a virgin;" and, "Like an eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning;" so are all the rich.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)