Chapter 5
Do Not Be Overconfident
1 Do not rely on your wealth
or say, “Now I am self-sufficient.”
2 Do not follow your inclinations and energy
in pursuing the desires of your heart.
3 Do not say, “Who can prevail against me?”
for the Lord will certainly punish your arrogance.
4 Do not say, “Even though I have sinned, nothing has befallen me,”
for the Lord is patient.
5 Do not be so confident of pardon
that you add sin upon sin.
6 Do not say, “His mercy is great;
he will forgive my many sins.”
For from him will come both mercy and retribution,
and upon sinners his anger will fall.
7 Do not delay your return to the Lord,
and do not put it off from one day to the next.
For suddenly the wrath of the Lord will descend upon you,
and on the day of punishment you will be destroyed.
8 Do not rely upon ill-gotten gains,
for they will avail you nothing on the day of disaster.
Be Resolute and in Control of Yourself
9 Do not winnow in every wind,
or walk along every road.
10 Be steadfast in your convictions
and consistent in your speech.
11 Be quick to listen
but deliberate in offering your answer.
12 If you have understanding, reply to your neighbor,
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.
13 Both honor and dishonor can result from speaking;
the tongue can be the cause of a person’s downfall.
14 Do not gain a reputation for spreading scandal,
or set traps with your tongue.
For shame lies in store for the thief,
and severe condemnation for the double-tongued.
15 Do not be the cause of harm in either great or small matters,
and do not become an enemy instead of a friend.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:1
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:3
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:4
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:5
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:6
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:9
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:9
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:12
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:13
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:15
