Eclesiástico 20

1Mejor es dar una reprensión que estar enojado, y mejor no prohibir el hablar al que confiesa.

2Como el eunuco lascivo que deshonra a una doncellita,

3así es el que con la fuerza viola la justicia.

4¡Cuán buena cosa es, mostrar arrepentimiento siendo corregido! porque así escaparás al pecado voluntario.

5Hay quien callando es reconocido por sabio; y hay quien es odioso por su flujo de hablar.

6Tal hay que calla por no saber hablar; y tal hay que calla, porque sabe cuál es la ocasión oportuna.

7El nombre sabio callará hasta que sea tiempo; mas el vano y el imprudente no aguardan la ocasión.

8Quien habla mucho, hará daño a su alma; y el que se arroga un poder injustamente será aborrecido.

9La prosperidad es un mal para el hombre desarreglado; y los tesoros que halla, se le convierten en detrimento.

10Hay dádiva que es inútil; y dádiva hay que tiene doble recompensa.

11Hay quien en la exaltación halla el abatimiento; y a otro la humillación sirve para ensalzarse.

12Tal hay que compra muchas cosas, a un vil precio, y después tiene que pagar siete veces más.

13Se hace amable el sabio con su conversación; mas las gracias de los tontos serán pérdidas.

14La dádiva del necio no te aprovechará; porque sus ojos tienen muchas miras.

15Dará poco y lo echará muchas veces en cara; y el abrir de su boca será un volcán.

16Hoy da prestado uno, y mañana lo demanda; hombre de este jaez es bien odioso.

17El necio no tendrá amigo; ni serán agradecidos sus dones;

18pues los que comen su pan, son de lengua fementida. ¡Oh, cuántos, y cuántas veces harán burla de él!

19Porque da sin juicio lo que debía reservar, y aun aquello que no debía guardar.

20El desliz de la lengua embustera es como el de quien cae en un pavimento; tan precipitada será la caída de los malos.

21El hombre insulso es como un cuento sin sustancia, repetido en boca de gente mal criada.

22La parábola no tiene gracia en boca del fatuo, porque la dice fuera de tiempo.

23Hay quien deja de pecar por falta de medios, y padecer tormentos por estar en inacción.

24Hay quien pierde su alma por respetos humanos, y la pierde por miramiento a un imprudente; y por un tal hombre se pierde a sí mismo.

25Hay quien por respetos humanos hace promesas al amigo, y la ganancia que de eso saca, es hacérsele gratuitamente enemigo.

26Es una tacha infame la mentira en el hombre; está de continuo en la boca de los mal criados.

27Menos malo es el ladrón, que el hombre que miente a todas horas; bien que ambos heredarán la perdición.

28Deshonradas son las costumbres de los mentirosos; siempre llevan consigo su propia confusión.

29El sabio se acredita con su hablar; y el varón prudente será grato a los magnates.

30Aquel que labra su tierra, formará más alto el montón de frutos. El que hace obras de justicia, será ensalzado, y el que es acepto a los magnates, debe huir la injusticia.

31Los regalos y las dádivas ciegan los ojos de los jueces, y les cierran la boca para no corregir.

32La sabiduría que se tiene oculta, y el tesoro escondido, ¿de qué sirven, ni aquella ni este?

33Mejor es el hombre que oculta su ignorancia, que el que tiene escondido su saber.

1[Quam bonum est arguere, quam irasci, et confitentem in oratione non prohibere !

2Concupiscentia spadonis devirginabit juvenculam:

3sic qui facit per vim judicium iniquum.

4Quam bonum est correptum manifestare pœnitentiam ! sic enim effugies voluntarium peccatum.

5Est tacens qui invenitur sapiens: et est odibilis qui procax est ad loquendum.

6Est tacens non habens sensum loquelæ: et est tacens sciens tempus aptum.

7Homo sapiens tacebit usque ad tempus: lascivus autem et imprudens non servabunt tempus.

8Qui multis utitur verbis lædet animam suam: et qui potestatem sibi sumit injuste, odietur.

9Est processio in malis viro indisciplinato, et est inventio in detrimentum.

10Est datum quod non est utile, et est datum cujus retributio duplex.

11Est propter gloriam minoratio, et est qui ab humilitate levabit caput.

12Est qui multa redimat modico pretio, et restituens ea in septuplum.

13Sapiens in verbis seipsum amabilem facit: gratiæ autem fatuorum effundentur.

14Datus insipientis non erit utilis tibi: oculi enim illius septemplices sunt.

15Exigua dabit, et multa improperabit: et apertio oris illius inflammatio est.

16Hodie fœneratur quis, et cras expetit: odibilis est homo hujusmodi.

17Fatuo non erit amicus, et non erit gratia bonis illius:

18qui enim edunt panem illius, falsæ linguæ sunt. Quoties et quanti irridebunt eum !

19neque enim quod habendum erat directo sensu distribuit; similiter et quod non erat habendum.

20Lapsus falsæ linguæ quasi qui in pavimento cadens: sic casus malorum festinanter veniet.

21Homo acharis quasi fabula vana, in ore indisciplinatorum assidua erit.

22Ex ore fatui reprobabitur parabola: non enim dicit illam in tempore suo.]

23[Est qui vetatur peccare præ inopia, et in requie sua stimulabitur.

24Est qui perdet animam suam præ confusione, et ab imprudenti persona perdet eam: personæ autem acceptione perdet se.

25Est qui præ confusione promittit amico, et lucratus est eum inimicum gratis.

26Opprobrium nequam in homine mendacium: et in ore indisciplinatorum assidue erit.

27Potior fur quam assiduitas viri mendacis: perditionem autem ambo hæreditabunt.

28Mores hominum mendacium sine honore, et confusio illorum cum ipsis sine intermissione.

29Sapiens in verbis producet seipsum, et homo prudens placebit magnatis.

30Qui operatur terram suam inaltabit acervum frugum, et qui operatur justitiam, ipse exaltabitur: qui vero placet magnatis effugiet iniquitatem.

31Xenia et dona excæcant oculos judicum, et quasi mutus, in ore avertit correptiones eorum.

32Sapientia absconsa, et thesaurus invisus, quæ utilitas in utrisque?

33Melior est qui celat insipientiam suam, quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam.]

1How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.

2The lust of an eunuch shall devour a young maiden:

3So is he that by violence executeth unjust judgment.

4How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.

5There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.

6There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.

7A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.

8He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.

9There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.

10There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which is double.

11There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate.

12There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold.

13A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.

14The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.

15He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.

16Today a man lendeth, and tomorrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful.

17A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds.

18For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!

19For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.

20The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

21A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually in the mouth of the unwise.

22A parable coming out, of a fool’s mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in due season.

23There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his rest he shall be pricked.

24There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself.

25There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.

26A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline.

27A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of them shall inherit destruction.

28The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without ceasing.

29A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent man shall please the great ones.

30He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.

31Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.

32Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit is there in them both?

33Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom.