Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 19

19:1

A worker who is a drunkard will not become rich.

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19:2

Wine and women will make men of understanding go astray.

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19:3

Decay and worms will have him as their heritage.

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19:4

He who is hasty to trust is shallow-hearted.

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19:5

He who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned.

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19:6

He who hates gossip has less wickedness.

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19:7

Never repeat what is told you,

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19:8

Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it.

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19:9

For if he has heard you and observed you,

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19:10

Have you heard something? Let it die with you.

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19:11

A fool will travail in pain with a word,

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19:12

As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh,

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19:13

Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it.

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19:14

Question your neighbour; it may be he didn’t say it.

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19:15

Question a friend; for many times there is slander.

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19:16

There is one who slips, and not from the heart.

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19:17

Reprove your neighbour before you threaten him;

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19:20

All wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

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19:22

The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom.

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19:23

There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination.

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19:24

Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God,

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19:25

There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust.

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19:26

There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning;

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19:27

bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear.

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19:28

And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning,

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19:29

A man will be known by his appearance.

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19:30

A man’s attire, grinning laughter,

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