Chapter 19

Avoid unlawful pleasures. Do not be talkative. Do not trust every word. Value the fear of God. Beware of cunning.

Sirach 19:1. A servant inclined to drunkenness will not become rich, and he who values trifles will gradually fall into ruin. 2. Wine and women will seduce the wise, and the one who consorts with harlots will become even more brazen; 3. decay and worms will inherit him, and his bold soul will be destroyed. 4. Whoever trusts quickly is foolish, and one who sins sins against his own soul. 5. The one devoted in heart to pleasures will be condemned, but he who resists desires will crown his life. 6. He who masters his tongue will live in peace, and he who hates talkativeness will diminish evil. 7. Never repeat a word, and you will lose nothing. 7. Do not speak unnecessarily (cf. Sir 20:5-8).

Sirach 19:8. Do not tell a friend or an enemy, and unless it would be a sin to you, do not reveal; 9. for he will listen to you, and he will be wary of you, and in time he will hate you. 10. You have heard a word; let it die with you: do not fear, it will not tear you apart. 8–10. Do not be talkative about what is entrusted to you.

Sirach 19:11. The fool suffers from a word such pain as a woman in childbirth suffers. 12. What an arrow thrust into the hip is, that is a word in the heart of the fool. 11–12. As it is difficult for a woman in childbirth to give birth to a child, so it is difficult for the fool to express his thought quickly and clearly. As an arrow thrust into the hip troubles him, so the fool is troubled by a thought that does not find proper expression.

Sirach 19:13. Question your friend; perhaps he did not do it; and if he did, then let him not do it again. 13. This is explained in verses 14–18. Do not trust every word. Before condemning a person, even in your own soul, you should carefully verify what this person is accused of; who has not sinned with his tongue from idleness or thoughtlessness—not in spirit? Before threatening a neighbor for perhaps his supposed transgression, allow the law of the Most High to prevail—the innocence of the accused will be revealed, and he will escape undeserved punishment.

Sirach 19:14. Question your friend; perhaps he did not say it; and if he said it, then let him not repeat it. 15. Question your friend, for slander often happens. 16. Do not trust every word. 17. Some have sinned with a word, but not in spirit; and who has not sinned with his tongue? 18. Question your neighbor before you threaten him, and allow the law of the Most High to prevail. All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfilling of the law. 19. And it is not wisdom to know evil. And there is no discernment where the counsel of sinners is. 19. This connects with the second half of verse 18.

Sirach 19:20. There is craftiness, and this is an abomination; and there is a fool who is foolish and lacking in wisdom. 21. Better a fool lacking knowledge but God-fearing than one rich in knowledge but breaking the law. 22. There is cunning that is refined, but it is unlawful, and there is one who distorts justice to render a sentence. 22. As the refined cunning that deceives with its false simplicity is unlawful, so also the one who perverts justice to get the sentence he needs is unlawful.

Sirach 19:23. There is a wicked man who goes about bent over in despair, but inside he is full of deceit. 24. He has covered his face and feigns to be deaf, but he will get ahead of you when you least expect it. 25. And if lack of strength prevents him from harming you, he will do you evil when he finds an opportunity. 26. By appearance a man is known, and by his expression when he meets you is a prudent man recognized. 27. The clothing, the grin, and the walk of a man show his character. 28. There is rebuke, but not timely, and sometimes one who is silent is wise.