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.
1 There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise.
1 There is a reproof that is not timely; and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent.
2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly:
2 How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry. He who confesses will be kept back from harm.
3 and he that confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt.
3 Not in this translation
4 As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with violence.
4 As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin, so is he who executes judgments with violence.
5 There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becometh hateful.
5 There is one who keeps silent and is found wise; and there is one who is hated for his much talk.
6 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his time.
6 There is one who keeps silent, for he has no answer to make; And there is one who keeps silent, knowing when to speak.
7 A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.
7 A wise man will be silent until his time has come, but the braggart and fool will miss his time.
8 He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.
8 He who uses many words will be abhorred. He who takes authority for himself will be hated in it.
9 There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss.
9 There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes; and there is a gain that turns to loss.
10 There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.
10 There is a gift that will not profit you; and there is a gift that pays back double.
11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate.
11 There are losses because of glory; and there is one who has lifted up his head from a low estate.
12 There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.
12 There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold.
13 A wise man by his words maketh himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
13 He who is wise in words will make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted.
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.
14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of one.
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.
15 He will give little and insult much. He will open his mouth like a crier. Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask for it back. Such a one is a hateful man.
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.
16 The fool will say, “I have no friend, and I have no thanks for my good deeds. Those who eat my bread have an evil tongue.”
17 How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn!
17 How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn!
18 To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
18 A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will come speedily.
19 An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
19 A man without grace is a tale out of season. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
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.
20 A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he won’t tell it at the proper time.
21 There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.
21 There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack. When he rests, he will not be troubled.
22 There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.
22 There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness. By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it.
23 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.
23 There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend; and he makes him his enemy for nothing.
24 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.
24 A lie is an ugly blot on a person. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage.
25 A thief is better than a man who is continually lying, but they both will inherit destruction.
26 The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.
26 The destination of a liar is dishonor. His shame is with him continually.
27 A wise man shall promote himself [to honour] with his words: and he that hath understanding will please great men.
27 He who is wise in words will advance himself. And one who is prudent will please great men.
28 He that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.
28 He who tills his land will raise his harvest high. He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity.
29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove.
29 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs.
30 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both?
30 Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight— what profit is in either of them?
31 Better is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his wisdom.
31 Better is a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom. 32 Not in this translation
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)