Sirach 5

Bishops^{(i) 1} Trust not vnto thy riches, & say not, tushe I haue inough for my lyfe, for it shall not helpe in the tyme of vengeaunce and temptation. ² Folowe not the lust of thyne owne heart in thy strength, ³ And say not, tushe howe haue I had strength? or who wyll bryng me vnder because of my workes? For doubtlesse God shall auenge it. ⁴ And say not, I haue sinned, and what euyll hath happened me? For the almightie is a patient rewarder. ⁵ Because thy sinne is forgeuen thee, be not therfore without feare, neither heape one sinne vpon another. ⁶ And say not, tushe, the mercie of the Lorde is great, he shall forgeue me my sinnes be they neuer so many: For lyke as he is mercifull, so goeth wrath from hym also, and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners. ⁷ Make no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde, and put not of from day to day: for sodenly shall his wrath come, and in the tyme of vengeaunce he shall destroy thee. ⁸ Trust not in wicked riches, for they shall not helpe thee in the day of punishment and wrath. ⁹ Be not caried about with euery winde, and go not into euery way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue. ¹⁰ Stande fast in the way of the Lorde, be stedfast in thy vnderstandyng, abyde by the worde, and folowe the worde of peace and righteousnesse. ¹¹ Be gentle to heare the worde of God, that thou mayest vnderstande it: and make a true aunswere with wisdome. ¹² Be swyft to heare, but slowe and pacient in geuing aunswere. ¹³ If thou hast vnderstanding, shape thy neighbour an aunswere: yf no, laye thy hande vpon thy mouth, lest thou be trapped in an vndiscreete word, and so confounded. ¹⁴ Honour and shame is in the talke, but the tongue of the vndiscrete is his owne destruction. ¹⁵ Be not a priuy accuser as long as thou lyuest, and vse no slaunder with thy tongue: For shame & sorowe goeth ouer the thiefe, and an euyll name ouer him that is double tongued: but he that is a priuy accuser of other men, shalbe hated, enuied, and confounded. ¹⁶ Do not rashly neither in great nor small.