SIRACH 32

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¹Have they made thee ruler of a feast? Be not lifted up, Be thou among them as one of them; Take thought for them, and so sit down.

²And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, That thou mayest be gladdened on their account, And receive a crown for thy well ordering.

³Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound knowledge; And hinder not music.

⁴Pour not out talk where there is a performance of music, And display not thy wisdom out of season.

⁵As a signet of carbuncle in a setting of gold, So is a concert of music in a banquet of wine.

⁶As a signet of emerald in a work of gold, So is a strain of music with pleasant wine.

⁷Speak, young man, if there be need of thee; Yet scarcely if thou be twice asked.

⁸Sum up thy speech, many things in few words; Be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.

⁹If thou be among great men, behave not as their equal; And when another is speaking, make not much babbling.

¹⁰Before thunder speedeth lightning; And before a shamefast man favour shall go forth.

¹¹Rise up betimes, and be not the last; Get thee home quickly and loiter not:

¹²There take thy pastime, and do what is in thy heart; And sin not by proud speech:

¹³And for these things bless him that made thee, And giveth thee to drink freely of his good things.

¹⁴He that feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; And they that seek him early shall find favour.

¹⁵He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: But the hypocrite shall stumble thereat.

¹⁶They that fear the Lord shall find judgement, And shall kindle righteous acts as a light.

¹⁷A sinful man shunneth reproof, And will find a judgement according to his will.

¹⁸A man of counsel will not neglect a thought; A strange and proud man will not crouch in fear, Even after he hath done a thing by himself without counsel.

¹⁹Do nothing without counsel; And when thou hast once done, repent not.

²⁰Go not in a way of conflict; And stumble not in stony places.

²¹Be not confident in a smooth way.

²²And beware of thine own children.

²³In every work trust thine own soul; For this is the keeping of the commandments.

²⁴He that believeth the law giveth heed to the commandment; And he that trusteth in the Lord shall suffer no loss.