Sirach · World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Sirach 20 World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 There is a reproof that is not timely; and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent.
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2 How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry. He who confesses will be kept back from harm.
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3 Not in this translation
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4 As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin, so is he who executes judgments with violence.
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5 There is one who keeps silent and is found wise; and there is one who is hated for his much talk.
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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.
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7 A wise man will be silent until his time has come, but the braggart and fool will miss his time.
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8 He who uses many words will be abhorred. He who takes authority for himself will be hated in it.
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9 There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes; and there is a gain that turns to loss.
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10 There is a gift that will not profit you; and there is a gift that pays back double.
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11 There are losses because of glory; and there is one who has lifted up his head from a low estate.
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12 There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold.
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13 He who is wise in words will make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted.
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14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of one.
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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.
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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.”
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17 How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn!
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18 A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will come speedily.
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19 A man without grace is a tale out of season. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
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20 A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he won’t tell it at the proper time.
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21 There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack. When he rests, he will not be troubled.
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22 There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness. By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it.
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23 There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend; and he makes him his enemy for nothing.
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24 A lie is an ugly blot on a person. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
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25 A thief is better than a man who is continually lying, but they both will inherit destruction.
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26 The destination of a liar is dishonor. His shame is with him continually.
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27 He who is wise in words will advance himself. And one who is prudent will please great men.
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28 He who tills his land will raise his harvest high. He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity.
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29 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs.
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30 Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight— what profit is in either of them?
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31 Better is a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom.
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32 Not in this translation
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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)