✠ The Douay-Rheims Bible
✠ Sirach 32
Chapters
SIR 32:1 Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.
SIR 32:2 Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place :
SIR 32:3 That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.
SIR 32:4 Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,
SIR 32:5 To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder not music.
SIR 32:6 Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not lifted up out season with thy wisdom.
SIR 32:7 A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.
SIR 32:8 As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.
SIR 32:9 Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.
SIR 32:10 Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.
SIR 32:11 If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.
SIR 32:12 In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.
SIR 32:13 In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.
SIR 32:14 Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.
SIR 32:15 And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.
SIR 32:16 And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.
SIR 32:17 And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.
SIR 32:18 He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.
SIR 32:19 He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.
SIR 32:20 They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.
SIR 32:21 A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.
SIR 32:22 A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:
SIR 32:23 Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.
SIR 32:24 My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.
SIR 32:25 Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones; trust not thyself to a rugged may, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.
SIR 32:26 And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.
SIR 32:27 In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.