Sirach

1Set not your heart upon your goods; And say not, They are sufficient for me.

2Follow not your own mind and your strength, To walk in the desires of your heart;

3And say not, Who shall have dominion over me? For the Lord will surely take vengeance on you.

4Say not, I sinned, and what happened to me? For the Lord is longsuffering.

5Concerning atonement, be not without fear, To add sin upon sins:

6And say not, His compassion is great; He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: For mercy and wrath are with him, And his indignation will rest upon sinners.

7Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord; And put not off from day to day: For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth; And you shall perish in the time of vengeance.

8Set not your heart upon unrighteous gains: For you shall profit nothing in the day of calamity.

9Winnow not with every wind, And walk not in every path: Thus does the sinner that has a double tongue.

10Be stedfast in your understanding; And let your word be one.

11Be swift to hear; And with patience make your answer.

12If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; And if not, let your hand be upon your mouth.

13Glory and dishonor is in talk: And the tongue of a man is his fall.

14Be not called a whisperer; And lie not in wait with your tongue: For upon the thief there is shame, And an evil condemnation upon him that has a double tongue.

15In a great matter and in a small, be not ignorant;