Sirach 32

1Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

2Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

3That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

4Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

5To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder not music.

6Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not lifted up out season with thy wisdom.

7A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

8As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

9Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

10Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

11If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

12In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

13In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

14Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

15And 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.

16And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

17And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

18He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

19He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

20They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

21A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

22A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

23Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

24My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

25Go 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.

26And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

27In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

28He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.

1[Rectorem te posuerunt? noli extolli: esto in illis quasi unus ex ipsis.

2Curam illorum habe, et sic conside, et omni cura tua explicita recumbe:

3ut læteris propter illos, et ornamentum gratiæ accipias coronam, et dignationem consequaris corrogationis.

4Loquere major natu: decet enim te

5primum verbum diligenti scientia, et non impedias musicam.

6Ubi auditus non est, non effundas sermonem, et importune noli extolli in sapientia tua.

7Gemmula carbunculi in ornamento auri, et comparatio musicorum in convivio vini.

8Sicut in fabricatione auri signum est smaragdi, sic numerus musicorum in jucundo et moderato vino.

9Audi tacens, et pro reverentia accedet tibi bona gratia.

10Adolescens, loquere in tua causa vix.

11Si bis interrogatus fueris, habeat caput responsum tuum.

12In multis esto quasi inscius, et audi tacens simul et quærens.

13In medio magnatorum non præsumas: et ubi sunt senes non multum loquaris.

14Ante grandinem præibit coruscatio: et ante verecundiam præibit gratia, et pro reverentia accedet tibi bona gratia.

15Et hora surgendi non te trices: præcurre autem prior in domum tuam, et illic avocare, et illic lude,

16et age conceptiones tuas, et non in delictis et verbo superbo:

17et super his omnibus benedicito Dominum, qui fecit, et inebriantem te ab omnibus bonis suis.]

18[Qui timet Dominum excipiet doctrinam ejus: et qui vigilaverint ad illum invenient benedictionem.

19Qui quærit legem replebitur ab ea, et qui insidiose agit scandalizabitur in ea.

20Qui timent Dominum invenient judicium justum, et justitias quasi lumen accendent.

21Peccator homo vitabit correptionem, et secundum voluntatem suam inveniet comparationem.

22Vir consilii non disperdet intelligentiam: alienus et superbus non pertimescet timorem:

23etiam postquam fecit cum eo sine consilio, et suis insectationibus arguetur.

24Fili, sine consilio nihil facias, et post factum non pœnitebis.

25In via ruinæ non eas, et non offendes in lapides: nec credas te viæ laboriosæ, ne ponas animæ tuæ scandalum.

26Et a filiis tuis cave, et a domesticis tuis attende.

27In omni opere tuo crede ex fide animæ tuæ, hoc est enim conservatio mandatorum.

28Qui credit Deo attendit mandatis: et qui confidit in illo non minorabitur.]

1Have they appointed you as a leader? Do not be willing to be extolled. Be among them as one of them.

2Have concern for them, and in this way sit down with them, and when you have explained all your concerns, sit back.

3Then you may rejoice because of them, and you may receive a crown as an adornment of grace, and so obtain the dignity of the assembly.

4Speak, you who are greater by birth. For it is fitting for you

5to speak the first word with careful knowledge. But you should not hinder the music.

6Where no one is listening, you should not pour out words. And do not choose to be extolled improperly for your wisdom.

7A gemstone of garnet is set amid an ornament of gold, and a concert of music is set amid a banquet of wine.

8Just as a signet of emerald is set amid a work of gold, so is a melody of music set amid delightful and moderate wine.

9Listen silently, and for your reverence, good graces will be added to you.

10Young man, speak in your own case only reluctantly.

11If you have been asked twice, let your response be concise.

12In many matters, be as if you lack knowledge, and listen silently as well as intently.

13In the midst of great men, you should not be presumptuous. And where the elders are present, you should not speak much.

14Lightning goes before a hailstorm, and grace goes before modesty. And so, for your reverence, good graces will be added to you.

15And at the hour for rising, you should not be lax. Later, be the first to run ahead to your house, and there withdraw, and there take your pastime.

16And act according to your intentions, but not in sin and not in arrogant speech.

17And for all these things, bless the Lord, who made you, and who fills you to overflowing with all his good things.

18Whoever fears the Lord will accept his doctrine. And whoever watches for him diligently will find a blessing.

19Whoever seeks the law will be filled from the law. But whoever acts with treachery will be scandalized by treachery.

20Those who fear the Lord will find just judgment, and they will kindle justice like a light.

21A sinful man will shun correction, and he will find a rationalization in accord with his own will.

22A man of counsel will not reject understanding. A strange and arrogant man will not be disturbed by fear.

23Even so, after he has acted out of fear and without counsel, he will be rebuked by his own criticism.

24Son, you should do nothing without counsel, and then you will not regret what you have done.

25You should not go into the way of ruin, and you then will not stumble on stones. You should not commit yourself to a laborious way; otherwise, you may set up a scandal against your own soul.

26And be cautious concerning your own sons. And be attentive to those of your own household.

27In all of your works, trust your soul to faith. For this is the keeping of the commandments.

28Whoever believes God attends to the commandments. And whoever trusts in him will not be diminished.