Sirach · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Sirach 20 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
DRB Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.
1 There is a reproof that is not timely; and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent.
2 The lust of an eunuch shall devour a young maiden:
2 How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry. He who confesses will be kept back from harm.
3 So is he that by violence executeth unjust judgment.
3 Not in this translation
4 How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.
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 holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.
5 There is one who keeps silent and is found wise; and there is one who is hated for his much talk.
6 There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper 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 peace 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 hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly 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 success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding 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 is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which 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 one that shall lift 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 small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold.
12 There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold.
13 A man wise in words shall make 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 the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.
14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of one.
15 He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.
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 Today a man lendeth, and tomorrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful.
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 A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds.
17 How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn!
18 For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!
18 A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will come speedily.
19 For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.
19 A man without grace is a tale out of season. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
20 The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
20 A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he won’t tell it at the proper time.
21 A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually in the mouth of the unwise.
21 There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack. When he rests, he will not be troubled.
22 A parable coming out, of a fool’s mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in due season.
22 There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness. By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it.
23 There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his rest he shall be pricked.
23 There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend; and he makes him his enemy for nothing.
24 There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself.
24 A lie is an ugly blot on a person. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
25 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.
25 A thief is better than a man who is continually lying, but they both will inherit destruction.
26 A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline.
26 The destination of a liar is dishonor. His shame is with him continually.
27 A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of them shall inherit destruction.
27 He who is wise in words will advance himself. And one who is prudent will please great men.
28 The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without ceasing.
28 He who tills his land will raise his harvest high. He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity.
29 A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent man shall please the great ones.
29 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs.
30 He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.
30 Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight— what profit is in either of them?
31 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.
31 Better is a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom.
32 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit is there in them both?
32 Not in this translation
33 Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom.
33 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)