Wisdom of Ben Sira 19:6-17
New Catholic Bible
6 but by hating gossip he avoids evil.
7 Never repeat gossip,
and you will come to no harm.
8 Report nothing accusatory to friend or foe;
do not reveal anything unless it would be sinful for you not to do so.
9 For one may hear it and mistrust you
and in time come to hate you.
10 Have you heard a rumor? Let it die with you;
be assured, if you hold it in, it will not cause you to burst asunder.
11 A fool who has heard something suffers birth pangs
like a woman in labor with a child.
12 Like an arrow lodged in a person’s thigh
is gossip in the heart of a fool.
You Cannot Believe Everything You Hear[a]
13 Question your friend—perhaps he may not have done what he is accused of,
and if he has, your action may ensure that he will not do it again.
14 Question your neighbor—perhaps he may not have said what he is accused of,
and if he has, your action may ensure that he will not say it again.
15 Question your friend—often he may be the victim of slander;
you cannot believe everything you hear.
16 And of course a man may let something slip without intending to do so;
is anyone’s tongue free of guilt?
17 Question your neighbor before you break with him,
and thereby you will give due place to the law[b] of the Most High.
17c [c]Do not give in to anger.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 19:13 These verses deal with the charitable concern we owe friends after hearing gossip about them. Above all, if the gossip turns out to be true, we should admonish them so that they will avoid making the same mistake in the future.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 19:17 You will give due place to the law: a reference to Lev 19:17-18.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 19:17 Added by some early MSS.
