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Sirach 19, RSV

19:1 A workman who is a drunkard will not become rich; he who despises small things will fail little by little.

19:2 Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, and the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless.

19:3 Decay and worms will inherit him, and the reckless soul will be snatched away.

19:4 One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded, and one who sins does wrong to himself.

19:5 One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,

19:6 and for one who hates gossip evil is lessened.

19:7 Never repeat a conversation, and you will lose nothing at all.

19:8 With friend or foe do not report it, and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it;

19:9 for some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you.

19:10 Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Be brave! It will not make you burst!

19:11 With such a word a fool will suffer pangs like a woman in labor with a child.

19:12 Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word inside a fool.

19:13 Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more.

19:14 Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again.

19:15 Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.

19:16 A person may make a slip without intending it. Who has never sinned with his tongue?

19:17 Question your neighbor before you threaten him; and let the law of the Most High take its course.

19:20 All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.

19:22 But the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence where sinners take counsel.

19:23 There is a cleverness which is abominable, but there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.

19:24 Better is the God-fearing man who lacks intelligence, than the highly prudent man who transgresses the law.

19:25 There is a cleverness which is scrupulous but unjust, and there are people who distort kindness to gain a verdict.

19:26 There is a rascal bowed down in mourning, but inwardly he is full of deceit.

19:27 He hides his face and pretends not to hear; but where no one notices, he will forestall you.

19:28 And if by lack of strength he is prevented from sinning, he will do evil when he finds an opportunity.

19:29 A man is known by his appearance, and a sensible man is known by his face, when you meet him.

19:30 A man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, and a man's manner of walking, show what he is.

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