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Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 19
Admonition against sundry vices.
1 |
A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little. |
2 |
Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the prudent: |
3 |
And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked. Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number. |
4 |
He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised. |
5 |
He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling, extinguisheth evil. |
6 |
He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned. |
7 |
Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not fare the worse. |
8 |
Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with thee, disclose it not. |
9 |
For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee always. |
10 |
Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee. |
11 |
At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning in the bringing forth a child. |
12 |
As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool. |
13 |
Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more. |
14 |
Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again. |
15 |
Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed. |
16 |
And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart. |
17 |
For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him. |
18 |
And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom. |
19 |
But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence. |
20 |
There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom. |
21 |
Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High. |
22 |
There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust. |
23 |
And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit: |
24 |
And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown: |
25 |
And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it. |
26 |
A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance. |
27 |
The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, shew what he is. |
28 |
There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise. |