Menu Close
Search Close
The King James Version Bible
  1. Home
  2. ›
  3. Apocrypha
  4. ›
  5. Sirach
  6. ›
  7. Sirach 20
  8. ›
  9. Sirach 20:4-23

Sirach 20:4-23

  1. As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with violence.

  2. There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becometh hateful.

  3. Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his time.

  4. A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.

  5. He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.

  6. There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss.

  7. There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.

  8. There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate.

  9. There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.

  10. A wise man by his words maketh him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.

  11. The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive many things for one.

  12. He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth like a crier; to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.

  13. The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.

  14. How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he knoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him as if he had it not.

  15. To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

  16. An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.

  17. A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.

  18. There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.

  19. There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.

  20. There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.