18:21. Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness shew thy conversation.
18:22. Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.
18:23. Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.
18:24. Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.
18:25. Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.
18:26. From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.
18:27. A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins will beware of sloth.
18:28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.
18:29. They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth proverbs and judgments.
18:30. Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.
18:31. If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies.
18:32. Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: for their concertation is continual.
18:33. Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own life.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 19
Admonition against sundry vices.
19:1. A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.
19:2. Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the prudent:
19:3. And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked.
Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number.
19:4. He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised.
19:5. He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling, extinguisheth evil.
19:6. He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned.
19:7. Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not fare the worse.
19:8. Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with thee, disclose it not.
19:9. For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee always.
19:10. Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
19:11. At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning in the bringing forth a child.
19:12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool.
19:13. Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.
19:14. Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
19:15. Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
19:16. And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart.
19:17. For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue?
Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.
19:18. And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.
19:19. But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence.
19:20. There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.
19:21. Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
19:22. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.
19:23. And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth.
There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit:
19:24. And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:
19:25. And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.
19:26. A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance.
19:27. The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, shew what he is.
19:28. There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 20
Rules with regard to correction, discretion, and avoiding lies.
20:1. How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.
20:2. The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden:
20:3. So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise.
20:4. How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.