Chapter 22

The lazy are hateful to all; ill-bred children are a sorrow to their parents. A word spoken out of season is like music in time of mourning. Seven days of weeping for the dead, but for a fool and an impious person all the days of his life. An evil life of a fool is worse than death. Be steadfast in friendship. Flee from quarrels. Guard your lips.

Sirach 22:1. The lazy one is like a filthy stone: everyone whistles at his disgrace. 2. The lazy one is like cow dung: everyone who picks it up will shake his hand. 3. It is a shame to a father to bring forth an ill-trained son; and a daughter ill-trained brings shame to her birth. 4. A prudent daughter shall gain a husband; but a shameless one grieves her father. 5. A bold woman shames her father and her husband; and both will despise her. 6. A word out of season is like music in time of sorrow; but correction and instruction of wisdom are at all times proper. 7. He that teaches a fool is like one that glues sherds together or that awakens one that sleeps a sound sleep. 8. He that tells a matter to a fool speaks to one in a slumber; for when he has finished, he says, “What is it?” 9. Weep for the dead, for the light has gone out of him; and weep for a fool, for understanding has gone out of him. 10. Weep less bitterly for the dead, for he is at rest; but the evil life of a fool is worse than death. 11. Mourning for the dead lasts seven days; but for a fool and an impious person it lasts all the days of his life. 12. Do not speak much with a senseless man, and go not with a fool; 13. beware of him, lest you have trouble and be defiled by his touch; 14. turn away from him and you will find rest, and will not be wearied by his lack of sense. 15. What is heavier than lead? and what is his name but a fool? 15. And what is his name—that is, with whom can you compare him if not with a fool? An explanation of this comparison is given in verse 16.

Sirach 22:16. Sand and salt and an iron weight are easier to bear than a man without sense. 17. A wooden beam bound firmly in a building does not come loose in an earthquake; so the heart that is established on a firm counsel does not fall in the time of fear. 18. A heart established on sensible thought is like a fine ornament on a polished wall. 19. A paling set on a high place will not stand against the wind: 20. so a fearful heart will not stand against the dread of any foe. 21. He that pricks the eye brings tears forth: he that pricks the heart brings out his feelings. 22. He that casts stones at birds drives them away; so he that upbraids his friend breaks off friendship. 23. If you have drawn a sword against a friend, despair not, for there may be a way back to friendship. 24. If you have opened your mouth against your friend, fear not, for reconciliation is possible. 25. But reproach, pride, the revealing of secrets, and treacherous wickedness will drive away any friend. 26. Gain the confidence of your neighbor in his poverty, that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity; 27. stand by him in time of trouble, that you may be an heir with him in his inheritance. 28. Before the heat of fire and before the flames, a furnace sends up smoke and steam: so before bloodshed there comes quarreling. 29. I am not ashamed to defend a friend, nor will I hide from his face; 30. and if any evil befalls me because of him, everyone who hears of it will beware of him. 31. Who will set a guard over my mouth and a seal of prudence on my lips, that I may not fall through them and that my tongue may not destroy me?