Sirach
Chapter 20
Collection of Sayings
Some rebukes are untimely; there is also the silence of a sensible man.
It is better to rebuke than to hold a grudge.
He who admits his fault reduces its impact.
Like a eunuch wanting to violate a girl, so is he who uses force pretending to be just.
One remains silent and is seen as wise; the other gossips and becomes hated.
One stays quiet because he doesn’t know what to say; the other waits for the right moment.
The wise person stays silent until it’s time; the fool and chatterbox speak out of turn.
He who talks too much makes himself disliked; he who tries to dominate stirs up resentment.
A person can turn troubles into advantages; a lucky break can become a setback.
There is a kind of generosity that won’t reward you and another that will repay double.
One is humiliated for receiving honors; another is humiliated but then lifts his head.
One gets much for little money; another pays seven times what it’s worth.
The wise man is loved through his words; the fool’s favors are lost.
The fool’s gift is not practical; he gives greedily and selfishly.
He gives a little but shows off significantly and makes noise; he lends today and expects repayment tomorrow; he is a contemptible man.
The fool says: “I have no friends, no one welcomes my favors.
Those who eat my bread speak evil of me.” Often, they mock him, and many do.
It’s better to stumble on the ground than to slip with your tongue; that’s how easily the wicked fall.
The rude man is like an ill-timed story that rude people tell out of turn.
A fool’s proverb will fail because he doesn’t tell it at the right time.
One avoids sin because he can’t act; when the chance comes, he will have no regret.
One loses his soul out of false shame; he loses himself out of fear of what a foolish man thinks.
Out of false shame, he tries to gain a friend; instead, he ends up with an enemy for nothing.
Lying
Lying is a shameful flaw in a man; fools become accustomed to it.
It’s better to be a thief than a liar, but both are on a path to disaster.
Constant lying is contemptible; the shame never leaves the liar.
The Wise Man
The wise man’s words promote his cause; the shrewd man will earn favor with those in power.
He who works the land increases his crop; he who pleases the powerful is forgiven his sins.
Presents and gifts blind a wise man’s eyes; like a muzzle, they silence the conscientious.
Concealed wisdom and hidden treasure: what good are they?
The man who hides his stupidity is better than one who hides his wisdom.
Commentaries
Collection of Sayings.
The first part of this chapter presents a collection of various sayings that, although lacking a unifying theme, still serve as helpful maxims for the aspiring wise man. It is not offered as strict instructions but more like an “inventory’—a list of attitudes and behaviors the teacher has observed, which the disciple can also notice. The text suggests, or leaves open, the judgment the wise man will make in response.
Lying.
When comparing a liar and a thief, Ben Sirach favors the thief because the liar’s tongue can cause more harm than a thief’s actions, which are harder to fix; however, neither attitude is desirable for the wise because both will “inherit destruction.”
The Wise Man.
An apology for the wise man and wisdom. It is necessary to reveal wisdom, but one must understand when, how, and before whom.