Sirach

¹Don’t set your heart upon your goods. Don’t say, “They are sufficient for me.” ²Don’t follow your own mind and your strength to walk in the desires of your heart. ³Don’t say, “Who will have dominion over me?” for the Lord will surely take vengeance on you. ⁴Don’t say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” for the Lord is patient. ⁵Don’t be so confident of atonement that you add sin upon sins. ⁶Don’t say, “His compassion is great. He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins,” for mercy and wrath are with him, and his indignation will rest on sinners. ⁷Don’t wait to turn to the Lord. Don’t put off from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come on you, and you will perish in the time of vengeance. ⁸Don’t set your heart upon unrighteous gains, for you will profit nothing in the day of calamity. ⁹Don’t winnow with every wind. Don’t walk in every path. This is what the sinner who has a double tongue does. ¹⁰Be steadfast in your understanding. Let your speech be consistent. ¹¹Be swift to hear and answer with patience. ¹²If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth. ¹³Glory and dishonor is in talk. A man’s tongue may be his downfall. ¹⁴Don’t be called a whisperer. Don’t lie in wait with your tongue; for shame is on the thief, and an evil condemnation is on him who has a double tongue. ¹⁵Don’t be ignorant in a great or small matter.