Sirach 22 A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled; And every one will hiss him out in his disgrace.

WEB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled; And every one will hiss him out in his disgrace. ² A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: Every man that takes it up will shake out his hand. ³ A father has shame in having begotten an uninstructed [son; ] And a [foolish ] daughter is born to his loss. ⁴ A prudent daughter will inherit a husband of her own; And she that brings shame is the grief of her father. ⁵ She that is bold brings shame upon father and husband; And she will be despised of them both. ⁶ Unseasonable discourse is [as ] music in mourning; But stripes and correction are wisdom at every season. ⁷ He that teaches a fool is [as ] one that glues a potsherd together; [Even as ] one that wakes a sleeper out of a deep sleep. ⁸ He who teaches a fool is [as ] one who teaches a man who slumbers; And at the end he will say, What is it? ⁹ ¹¹ Weep for the dead, for light has failed [him; ] And weep for a fool, for understanding has failed [him: ] Weep more sweetly for the dead, because he has found rest; But the life of the fool is worse than death. ¹² Seven days are [the days of ] mourning for the dead; But for a fool and an ungodly man, all the days of his life. ¹³ Talk not much with a foolish man, And go not to one that has no understanding: Beware of him, lest you have trouble; And [so ] you shall not be defiled in his onslaught: Turn away from him, and you will find rest; And [so ] you shall not be wearied in his madness. ¹⁴ What shall be 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 Timber girded and bound into a building will not be released with shaking: So a heart established in due season on well advised counsel will not be afraid. ¹⁷ A heart settled upon a thoughtful understanding Is as an ornament of plaster on a polished wall. ¹⁸ Pales set on a high place will not stand against the wind: So a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool will not stand against any fear. ¹⁹ He that pricks the eye will make tears to fall; And he that pricks the heart makes it to show feeling. ²⁰ Whoso casts a stone at birds frays them away; And he that upbraids a friend will dissolve friendship. ²¹ If you have drawn a sword against a friend, despair not; For there may be a returning. ²² If you have opened your mouth against a friend, fear not; For there may be a reconciling; Except it be for upbraiding, and arrogance, and disclosing of a secret, and a treacherous blow: For these things every friend will flee. ²³ Gain trust with your neighbor in his poverty, That in his prosperity you may have gladness: Stay steadfast to him in the time of his affliction, That you may be heir with him in his inheritance. ²⁴ Before fire is the vapor and smoke of a furnace; So revilings before bloodshed. ²⁵ I will not be ashamed to shelter a friend; And I will not hide myself from his face: ²⁶ And if any evil happen to me because of him, Every one that hears it will beware of him. ²⁷ Who shall set a watch over my mouth, And a seal of shrewdness upon my lips, That I fall not from it, and that my tongue destroy me not?