Ecclesiasticus / Sirach - The Old Testament

¹ Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I am self-sufficient.'

² Do not be led by your appetites and energy to follow the passions of your heart.

³ And do not say, 'Who has authority over me?' for the Lord will certainly give you your deserts.

⁴ Do not say, 'I have sinned, but what harm has befallen me?' for the Lord's forbearance is long.

⁵ Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin.

⁶ And do not say, 'His compassion is great, he will forgive me my many sins'; for with him are both mercy and retribution, and his anger does not pass from sinners.

⁷ Do not delay your return to the Lord, do not put it off day after day; for suddenly the Lord's wrath will blaze out, and on the day of punishment you will be utterly destroyed.

⁸ Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains, they will be of no use to you on the day of disaster.

⁹ Do not winnow in every wind, or walk along every by-way (as the double-talking sinner does).

¹⁰ Be steady in your convictions, and be a person of your word.

¹¹ Be quick to listen, and deliberate in giving an answer.

¹² If you understand the matter, give your neighbour an answer, if not, keep your hand over your mouth.

¹³ Both honour and disgrace come from talking, the tongue is its owner's downfall.

¹⁴ Do not get a name for scandal-mongering, do not set traps with your tongue; for as shame lies in store for the thief, so harsh condemnation awaits the deceitful.

¹⁵ Avoid offences in great as in small matters, and do not exchange friendship for enmity,