Day 268 The Bible in a Year (Orthodox canon)

Sirach 19

1 A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little. 2 Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent. 3 Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away. 4 He that is hasty to give credit is light-minded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul. 5 Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: 6 but he that hateth babbling hath less of evil. 7 Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse. 8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst not without offence, reveal them not. 9 For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee. 10 If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee. 11 A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child. 12 As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly. 13 Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more. 14 Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again. 15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale. 16 There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue? 17 Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and give place to the law of the most High. 20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law. 22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence. 23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom. 24 He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High. 25 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear. 26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit, 27 casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware. 28 And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil. 29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him. 30 A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.

Sirach 20

1 There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise. 2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly: 3 and he that confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt. 4 As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with violence. 5 There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becometh hateful. 6 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his time. 7 A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time. 8 He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated. 9 There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss. 10 There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is double. 11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate. 12 There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold. 13 A wise man by his words maketh himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out. 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. 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. 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. 17 How oft, and of how many shall 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. 19 An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise. 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. 21 There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled. 22 There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself. 23 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh 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. 25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage. 26 The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him. 27 A wise man shall promote himself [to honour] with his words: and he that hath understanding 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. 29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove. 30 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both? 31 Better is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his wisdom.

Sirach 21

1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins. 2 Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men. 3 All iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed. 4 To terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate. 5 A prayer out of a poor man's mouth reacheth to the ears of God, and his judgment cometh speedily. 6 He that hateth reproof is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart. 7 An eloquent man is known far [and near]; but a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth. 8 He that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial. 9 The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them. 10 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end thereof is the pit of hell. 11 He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom. 12 He that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness. 13 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of life. 14 The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth. 15 If a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but when one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back. 16 The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace shall be found in the lips of the wise. 17 They enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart. 18 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense. 19 Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand. 20 A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth scarce smile a little. 21 Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm. 22 A foolish man's foot is soon in [his neighbour's] house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him. 23 A fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without. 24 It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace. 25 The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance. 26 The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart. 27 When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul. 28 A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.