Home Master Index
←Prev   Sirach 5 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


5:1  Do not rely on your wealth, or say, “I have enough.”
5:2  Do not follow your inclination and strength in pursuing the desires of your heart.
5:3  Do not say, “Who can have power over me?” for the Lord will surely punish you.
5:4  Do not say, “I sinned, yet what has happened to me?” for the Lord is slow to anger.
5:5  Do not be so confident of forgiveness that you add sin to sin.
5:6  Do not say, “His mercy is great, he will forgive the multitude of my sins,” for both mercy and wrath are with him, and his anger will rest on sinners.
5:7  Do not delay to turn back to the Lord, and do not postpone it from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you, and at the time of punishment you will perish.
5:8  Do not depend on dishonest wealth, for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.
5:9  Do not winnow in every wind, or follow every path.
5:10  Stand firm for what you know, and let your speech be consistent.
5:11  Be quick to hear, but deliberate in answering.
5:12  If you know what to say, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth.
5:13  Honor and dishonor come from speaking, and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.
5:14  Do not be called double-tongued and do not lay traps with your tongue; for shame comes to the thief, and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.
5:15  In great and small matters cause no harm,