1  You should not quarrel with a powerful man, lest perhaps you may fall into his hands.

1  Strive not with a mighty man’ lest thou fall into his hands.

2  You should not contend with a wealthy man, lest perhaps he may bring an action against you.

2  Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.

3  For gold and silver have destroyed many, and have reached and corrupted even the hearts of kings.

4  You should not quarrel with a man who is full of words, for you should not cast wood upon his fire.

Sir8:3  Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.

5  You should not confide in an ignorant man, lest he speak evil about your family.

Sir8:4  Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced.

6  You should not despise a man who turns himself away from sin, nor reproach him with it. Remember that we are all subject to correction.

Sir8:5  Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.

7  You should not spurn a man in his old age. For we are all subject to growing old.

Sir8:6  Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old.

8  Do not be willing to rejoice at the death of your enemy, knowing that we all die, and that we do not want others rejoice over us.

Sir8:7  Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all.

9  You should not despise the discourse of those who are old and wise; instead, ponder their proverbs.

Sir8:8  Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to serve great men with ease.

10  For from them, you will learn wisdom and intelligent doctrine, so as to serve great men without blame.

11  Do not allow the discourse of your elders to pass you by. For they have learned from their fathers.

Sir8:9  Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth.

12  And from them, you will learn understanding, and you will learn what response to give in a time of necessity.

13  You should not kindle the coals of sinners by arguing with them. For you might be scorched by the flame from the fire of their sins.

Sir8:10  Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire.

14  You should not stand against the face of a contemptuous person, otherwise he may sit down as if waiting in ambush against your words.

Sir8:11  Rise not up in anger at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words

15  You should not lend to a man who is stronger than you. But if you do lend, consider it lost.

Sir8:12  Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou lendest him, count it but lost.

16  You should not promise beyond your ability. But if you do promise, consider how to fulfill it.

Sir8:13  Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it.

17  You should not judge against a judge. For he judges according to what is just.

Sir8:14  Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour.

18  You should not go forth on the way with an audacious man, lest perhaps he may burden you with his evils. For he goes forth according to his own will, and you will perish with him in his folly.

Sir8:15  Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with him through his folly.

19  You should not start a conflict with an angry man, and you should not go into the desert with an audacious man. For shedding blood is nothing to him, and in a place where there is no help for you, he will overthrow you.

Sir8:16  Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee.

20  You should not hold counsel with the foolish. For they are not able to love anything except what pleases them.

Sir8:17  Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.

21  You should not take counsel in the sight of an outsider. For you do not know what he will do next.

Sir8:18  Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.

22  You should not reveal your heart to every man, lest perhaps he may offer a false kindness to you, and then speak reproachfully about you.

Sir8:19  Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn.

9:1  You should not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, lest she reveal, because of you, the malice of a wicked lesson.

1  Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.

9:2  You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded.

2  Give not thy soul unto a woman to set her foot upon thy substance.

9:3  You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps.

3  Meet not with an harlot, lest thou fall into her snares.

9:4  You should not be continually in need of entertainment, nor should you be persuaded by it, lest perhaps you may perish by its effectiveness.

4  Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest thou be taken with her attempts.

9:5  You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty.

5  Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are precious in her.

9:6  You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance.

6  Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine inheritance.

9:7  Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares.

7  Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary place thereof.

9:8  Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty.

8  Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another’s beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.

9:9  Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire.

9:10  Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street.

9:11  Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire.

9:12  You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch.

Sir9:9  Sit not at all with another man’s wife, nor sit down with her in thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine; lest thine heart incline unto her, and so through thy desire thou fall into destruction.

9:13  And you should not argue with her over wine, lest perhaps your heart may turn toward her, and by your emotion, you would be toppled into perdition.

9:14  You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him.

Sir9:10  Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure.

9:15  A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it.

9:16  You should not envy the glory and wealth of a sinner. For you do not know what may be his undoing in the future.

Sir9:11  Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what shall be his end.

9:17  The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please.

Sir9:12  Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.

9:18  Keep yourself far from a man having the power to kill, and then you will not have the fear of death suspended over you.

Sir9:13  Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill; so shalt thou not doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, make no fault, lest he take away thy life presently: remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the city.

9:19  But if you do approach him, do nothing to offend, lest perhaps he may take away your life.

9:20  Know that this is a communion with death. For you would be entering the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of the grieving.

9:21  According to your ability, be cautious of your neighbor, and treat him as the wise and prudent would.

Sir9:14  As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult with the wise.

9:22  Let just men be your companions, and let your glory be in the fear of God.

Sir9:15  Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in the law of the most High.

9:23  And let the thought of God be in your mind, and let all your discourse be on the precepts of the Most High.

Sir9:16  And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord.

9:24  Works will be praised for the hands of the artists, and a leader of the people will be praised for the wisdom of his words, yet truly, the word of the elders will be praised for its understanding.

Sir9:17  For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the wise ruler of the people for his speech.

9:25  A man full of words is a dread to his city, but one who speaks rashly will be hated for his word.

Sir9:18  A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be hated.

10:1  A wise judge will judge his people, and the leadership of an understanding man will be steadfast.

10:2  As the judge of the people is, so also are his assistants. And whatever kind of man the ruler of a city is, of such a kind also are those who live in it.

10:3  A foolish king will be the ruin of his people. For cities will be inhabited through the understanding of those with power.

3  An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.

10:4  Power over the earth is in the hand of God, and, in due time, he will raise up a helpful leader over the earth.

4  The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.

10:5  The prosperity of a man is in the hand of God, and he will place his honor above the face of the scribe.

5  In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.

10:6  You should forget all injury done to you by your neighbor, and you should do nothing among the works of injury.

6  Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.

10:7  Arrogance is hateful in the sight of God and of men. And all iniquity among the nations is abominable.

7  Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.

10:8  A kingdom is transferred from one people to another because of injustices, and injuries, and contempt, and every kind of deceit.

8  Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.

10:9  But nothing is more wicked than a greedy man. Why should that which is earth and ashes be arrogant?

9  Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.

10:10  There is nothing more iniquitous than to love money. For such a one has sold even his own soul. For in his life, he casts aside his innermost being.

10:11  All power is of short life. A prolonged sickness is of grave concern to a physician.

10:12  A physician causes a sickness to be shortened. So also, a king is here today, and tomorrow he will die.

Sir10:10  The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.

10:13  For when a man dies, he will inherit serpents, and wild beasts, and worms.

10:14  The beginning of the arrogance of man is apostasy from God.

Sir10:12  The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.

10:15  For his heart has withdrawn from the One who made him. For arrogance is the beginning of all sin. Whoever holds to it, will be filled with evil words, and it will overthrow him in the end.

Sir10:13  For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.

10:16  Because of this, the Lord has dishonored the gatherings of the evil, and he has destroyed them, even unto the end.

10:17  God has destroyed the seats of arrogant leaders, and he has caused the meek to be seated in their place.

Sir10:14  The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.

10:18  The roots of arrogant nations, God has dried up, and the humble among these nations, he has planted.

Sir10:15  The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.

10:19  The Lord has overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and he has utterly destroyed them, even to their foundation.

Sir10:16  The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

10:20  He has dried up some of them, and he has utterly destroyed them, and he has caused their memory to depart from the earth.

Sir10:17  He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.

10:21  God has abolished the memory of the arrogant, and he has left behind only the memory of those who are humble in mind.

Sir10:18  Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.

10:22  Arrogance was not created for men, nor was an angry temperament created for the gender of women.

Sir10:19  They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.

10:23  Those who fear God among the offspring of men will be honored. But those among the offspring who ignore the commandments of the Lord will be dishonored.

Sir10:20  Among brethren he that is chief is honourably; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.

10:24  In the midst of his brothers, a ruler has honor. And those who fear the Lord will have honor in his eyes.

Sir10:21  The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.

10:25  The fear of God is the glory of the wealthy, and of the honorable, and of the poor.

Sir10:22  Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.

10:26  Do not choose to despise a just man who is poor, and do not choose to magnify a sinful man who is rich.

Sir10:23  It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.

10:27  The great man, and the judge, and the powerful have honor. But no one is greater than he who fears God.

Sir10:24  Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.

10:28  Those who are free will serve an understanding servant. And a prudent and disciplined man will not murmur at correction. But an ignorant man will not be honored.

Sir10:25  Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.

10:29  Do not choose to extol yourself in doing your work, and do not be unproductive during the time of distress.

Sir10:26  Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.

10:30  He who works, and so abounds in all things, is better than he who boasts, and so lacks bread.

Sir10:27  Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.

10:31  Son, preserve your soul in meekness, and give it honor according to its merit.

Sir10:28  My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.

10:32  Who will justify one who sins in his soul? And who will honor one who dishonors his soul?

Sir10:29  Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?

10:33  The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear. And there is a man who is honored because of his substance.

Sir10:30  The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.

10:34  But if someone is glorified in poverty, how much more in substance? And whoever is glorified in substance, let him fear poverty.

Sir10:31  He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?

11:1  The wisdom of one who is humble will exalt his head, and will cause him to sit down in the midst of great men.

1  Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

11:2  You should not praise a man for his beauty, and you should not despise a man for his appearances.

2  Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

11:3  The bee is small among flying things, but its fruit holds the summit of sweetness.

11:4  You should not glory in clothing at any time, and you should not let yourself be extolled in the day of your honor. For the works of the Most High alone are wondrous; and glorious and hidden and unseen are his works.

4  Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.

11:5  Many tyrants have sat upon a throne, and one whom no one would admire has worn a diadem.

5  Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.

11:6  Many powerful men have been powerfully cast down, and the illustrious have been handed over into the hands of others.

6  Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men’s hands.

11:7  Before you inquire, you should not place blame on anyone; and when you have inquired, reprove justly.

7  Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

11:8  Before you listen, you should not respond a word; and you should not interrupt in the middle of a discourse.

8  Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

11:9  You should not contend in a matter which does not concern you, and you should not sit in judgment together with sinners.

9  Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgement with sinners.

11:10  Son, you should not be involved in many matters. And if you become rich, you will not be free from transgression. For if you pursue, you will not apprehend; and if you run ahead, you will not escape.

10  My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.

11:11  There is an impious man who labors and hurries and grieves, but all the more will he be without abundance.

11  There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

11:12  There is a debilitated man in need of recovery, who is lacking in strength and abundant in poverty.

12  Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

11:13  Yet the eye of God has looked with favor upon him for his benefit, and he has lifted him up from his humiliation, and he has exalted his head. And many have wondered at him, and they have honored God.

13  And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw from him is peace over all the

11:14  Good things and misfortune, life and death, poverty and wealth, are from God.

14  Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

11:15  Wisdom, and discipline, and knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.

15  Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

11:16  Error and darkness have been created by sinners. And those who exult in evil, grow old in evil.

11:17  The gift of God remains with the just man, and his advancement will have success unto eternity.

17  The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.

11:18  There is one who is enriched by spending sparingly, and this is the extent of his reward.

18  There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this his the portion of his reward

11:19  About this, he says: “I have found rest for myself, and now I alone will eat from my goods.”

19  Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

11:20  But he does not know how much time will pass before death approaches, and then he must leave everything behind to others and die.

11:21  Stand fast in your covenant, and become familiar with it, and grow old in the work of your commandments.

Sir11:20  Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.

11:22  You should not spend time in the works of sinners. Instead, trust in God and remain in your own place.

Sir11:21  Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

11:23  For it is easy, in the eyes of God, to make a pauper suddenly rich.

11:24  The blessing of God hurries to reward the just man, and in a fleeting hour his advancement bears fruit.

Sir11:22  The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.

11:25  You should not say: “What do I need?” or, “What good will there be for me in this?”

Sir11:23  Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

11:26  You should not say: “I have enough for myself,” or, “What could be worse than this?”

Sir11:24  Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?

11:27  In a day of good things, you should not be forgetful of misfortunes. And in a day of misfortunes, you should not be forgetful of good things.

Sir11:25  In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

11:28  For it is easy, in the sight of God, on the day of one’s passing, to repay each one according to his ways.

Sir11:26  For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

11:29  The affliction of an hour causes one to forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the uncovering of his works.

11:30  You should not praise any man before death. For a man is known by his children.

Sir11:28  Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

11:31  You should not bring every man into your house. For many are the snares of the deceitful.

Sir11:29  Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

11:32  For as a stomach with a bad smell vomits, and as a partridge is led into a cage, and like a deer led into a snare, so also is the heart of the arrogant. And it is like a bystander watching his neighbor fall.

Sir11:30  Like as a partridge taken and kept in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall

11:33  For it lies in ambush, and then turns good into evil, and it will place the blame on the elect.

Sir11:31  For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

11:34  From one spark, a great fire grows; and from one deceitful man, much blood flows. But a very sinful man lies in ambush for blood.

Sir11:32  Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

11:35  Pay close attention to yourself before a harmful man, for he fabricates evils. Otherwise, he may lead over you a whispered reproach unceasingly.

Sir11:33  Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

11:36  Receive a stranger to yourself, and he will overthrow you with a whirlwind, and he will alienate you from what is your very own.

Sir11:34  Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.

12:1  If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your good deeds.

1  When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.

12:2  Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.

12:3  For there is no good for someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant.

3  There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.

12:4  Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution.

4  Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.

12:5  Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.

5  Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby: for else thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.

12:6  Do good to the humble, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it.

6  For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

12:7  For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious.

7  Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.

12:8  A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.

8  A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

12:9  By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.

9  In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.

12:10  You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.

10  Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.

12:11  And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.

11  Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away.

12:12  You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon.

12  Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he stand up in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked therewith.

12:13  Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous man and is involved in his sins.

13  Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

14  So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?

12:14  For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.

Sir12:15  For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.

12:15  An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit.

Sir12:16  An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

12:16  An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

12:17  And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.

12:18  An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.

Sir12:19  If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.

12:19  He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.