﻿Sirach.
Chapter 22.
A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, And everyone will hiss him out to his disgrace. 
A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: Every man that takes it up will shake his hand. 
An evil-nurtured son is the dishonor of his father that begot him: And a foolish daughter is born to his loss. 
A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: But she that liveth dishonestly is her father’s heaviness. 
She that is bold dishonoreth both her father and her husband, And they both shall despise her. 
A tale out of season is as music in mourning: But stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time. 
Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, And as he that waketh one from a sound sleep. 
He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: When he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter? 
Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: And weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: Make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: But the life of the fool is worse than death. 
Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; But for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life. 
Talk not much with a fool, And go not to him that hath no understanding: Beware of him, lest thou have trouble, And thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: Depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, And never be disquieted with madness. 
What is heavier than lead? And what is the name thereof, but a fool? 
Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, are easier to bear, Than a man without understanding. 
As timber girded and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: So the heart that is established by advised counsel shall fear at no time. 
A heart settled upon a thought of understanding Is as a fair plastering on the wall of a gallery. 
Pales set on a high place will never stand against the wind: So a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear. 
He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: And he that pricketh the heart maketh it to show her knowledge. 
Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: And he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship. 
Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: For there may be a returning to favor. 
If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; For there may be a reconciliation: Except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: For for these things every friend will depart. 
Be faithful to thy neighbor in his poverty, That thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: Abide steadfast unto him in the time of his trouble, That thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage. 
As the vapor and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; So reviling before blood. 
I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; Neither will I hide myself from him; 
And if any evil happen unto me by him, Everyone that heareth it will beware of him. 
Who shall set a watch before my mouth, And a seal of wisdom upon my lips, That I fall not suddenly by them, And that my tongue destroy me not? 
