Ecclesiasticus 20

¹How good a thing is it to rebuke, rather than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer!

²The concupiscence of an eunuch shall deflower a young-maid:

³so he that by violence doth unjust judgement.

⁴How good a thing is it being rebuked to shew repentance! For so thou shalt avoid willful sin.

⁵There is that holdeth his peace, which is found wise: and there is that is odious, he which is malapert to speak.

⁶There is that holdeth his peace having not understanding to speak: and there is that holdeth his peace, knowing the time of fit opportunity.

⁷A wise man will hold his peace until a time: but a wanton, and the unwise will not observe time.

⁸He that useth many words, shall hurt his own soul: & he that taketh authority to himself unjustly, shall be hated.

⁹There is proceeding in evils to a man without discipline, and there is finding to loss.

¹⁰There is a gift, that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the reward whereof is double.

¹¹There is debasing because of glory: and there is that from humility shall lift up the head.

¹²There is that redeemeth many things for a small price, and restoreth the same seven-fold.

¹³Aman wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.

¹⁴The gift of the unwise shall not be profitable for thee: for his eyes are seven-fold.

¹⁵He will give few things, and upbraid many: and the opening of his mouth is an inflammation.

¹⁶Today a man lendeth, and tomorrow he asketh it again: such a man is odious.

¹⁷A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be not thank to his goods.

¹⁸For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn?

¹⁹For he doth not distribute with right understanding, that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.

²⁰The slipping of a false tongue, as he that falleth on the pavement: so the falls of the evil shall come hastily.

²¹Aman without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continual in the mouth of them that are without discipline.

²²A parable out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in his time.

²³There is that is forbid to sin for poverty, and in his rest he shall be pricked.

²⁴There is that will destroy his soul for shamefastness, and by an unwise person he will destroy it: and by acception of person he will destroy himself.

²⁵There is that for shamefastness promiseth to his friend, and hath gotten an enemy of him for naught.

²⁶Lying is a wicked reproach in a man, and in the mouth of men without discipline it shall be continually.

²⁷Better is a thief, than the continual custom of a lying man, but both shall inherit perdition.

²⁸The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without intermission.

²⁹A wise man in his words shall utter himself, and a prudent man shall please great persons.

³⁰He that tilleth his land, shall make an high heap of corn: and who so worketh justice, he shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men, shall avoid iniquity.

³¹Presents & gifts blind the eyes of judges, and as one dumb in the mouth turneth away their chastisements.

³²Wisdom hid, and treasure not seen: what profit is there in both?

³³Better is he that concealeth his foolishness, than the man that hideth his wisdom.