Chapter Twenty-Two

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. Sirach 22:2. The lazy one is like cow dung: everyone who picks it up will shake his hand. Sirach 22:3. It is a shame to a father to bring forth an ill-trained son; and a daughter ill-trained brings shame to her birth. Sirach 22:4. A prudent daughter shall gain a husband; but a shameless one grieves her father. Sirach 22:5. A bold woman shames her father and her husband; and both will despise her. Sirach 22:6. A word out of season is like music in time of sorrow; but correction and instruction of wisdom are at all times proper. Sirach 22:7. He that teaches a fool is like one that glues sherds together or that awakens one that sleeps a sound sleep. Sirach 22:8. He that tells a matter to a fool speaks to one in a slumber; for when he has finished, he says, “What is it? Sirach 22:9. Weep for the dead, for the light has gone out of him; and weep for a fool, for understanding has gone out of him. Sirach 22:10. Weep less bitterly for the dead, for he is at rest; but the evil life of a fool is worse than death. Sirach 22:11. Mourning for the dead lasts seven days; but for a fool and an impious person it lasts all the days of his life. Sirach 22:12. Do not speak much with a senseless man, and go not with a fool; Sirach 22:13. beware of him, lest you have trouble and be defiled by his touch; Sirach 22:14. turn away from him and you will find rest, and will not be wearied by his lack of sense. Sirach 22:15. 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. Sirach 22:17. 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. Sirach 22:18. A heart established on sensible thought is like a fine ornament on a polished wall. Sirach 22:19. A paling set on a high place will not stand against the wind: Sirach 22:20. so a fearful heart will not stand against the dread of any foe. Sirach 22:21. He that pricks the eye brings tears forth: he that pricks the heart brings out his feelings. Sirach 22:22. He that casts stones at birds drives them away; so he that upbraids his friend breaks off friendship. Sirach 22:23. If you have drawn a sword against a friend, despair not, for there may be a way back to friendship. Sirach 22:24. If you have opened your mouth against your friend, fear not, for reconciliation is possible. Sirach 22:25. But reproach, pride, the revealing of secrets, and treacherous wickedness will drive away any friend. Sirach 22:26. Gain the confidence of your neighbor in his poverty, that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity; Sirach 22:27. stand by him in time of trouble, that you may be an heir with him in his inheritance. Sirach 22:28. Before the heat of fire and before the flames, a furnace sends up smoke and steam: so before bloodshed there comes quarreling. Sirach 22:29. I am not ashamed to defend a friend, nor will I hide from his face; Sirach 22:30. and if any evil befalls me because of him, everyone who hears of it will beware of him. Sirach 22:31. 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?