Ecclesiasticus 22:1-27
[1]A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.
[2]A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.
[3]An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
[4]A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.
[5]She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.
[6]A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
[7]Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.
[8]He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?
[9]If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.
[10]But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.
[11]Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.
[12]Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life.
[13]Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.
[14]What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?
[15]Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.
[16]As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time.
[17]A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.
[18]Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.
[19]He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.
[20]Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.
[21]Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favour.
[22]If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for these things every friend will depart.
[23]Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.
[24]As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.
[25]I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.
[26]And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will beware of him.
[27]Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
