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Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:11-6:1
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:11-6:1
New Catholic Bible
11 Be quick to listen
but deliberate in offering your answer.
12 If you have understanding, reply to your neighbor,
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.[a]
13 Both honor and dishonor can result from speaking;
the tongue[b] can be the cause of a person’s downfall.
14 Do not gain a reputation for spreading scandal,
or set traps with your tongue.
For shame lies in store for the thief,
and severe condemnation for the double-tongued.
15 Do not be the cause[c] of harm in either great or small matters,
and do not become an enemy instead of a friend.
Chapter 6
1 For a bad name will result in shame and reproach,
as is the case of the double-tongued sinner.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:12 Put your hand over your mouth: a graphic expression to indicate one should keep silent inasmuch as one has no competency to speak.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:13 The tongue: The author will return frequently to the theme of the use and abuse of the tongue (Sir 19:6-17; 20:17-20; 22:27—23:15; 28:13-26).
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 5:15 Be the cause: Hebrew; Greek reads: “be ignorant.”
