Глава 20

Open reproof is more beneficial than hidden anger. Judgment with falsehood is unnatural. There is silence for the wise and speaking for the foolish. Not every success is good, not every acquisition is beneficial. Not all humiliation is inglorious. The giving of a fool will pay off dearly. A wise man will refrain from sin and will not be ashamed to be virtuous. Sir.20:1 It is much better to reprove than to be angry in secret; and the one who is rebuked in private will be warned against harm. Sir.20:2 How good it is for someone convicted to show repentance! Sir.20:3 For he will avoid willful sin. Sir.20:4 What is the desire of the eunuch to corrupt the maiden, then the judge carries out the judgment with a stretch. 4. The desire of falsehood to overcome the truth in court is as unnatural as the vile intention of a eunuch towards a girl is unnatural. Sir.20:5 Someone is silent and turns out to be wise; and some are hated for being too talkative. Sir.20:6 Some are silent because they have nothing to answer; and another is silent because he knows the time. Sir.20:7 A wise man will remain silent for a time; but the vain and reckless will not wait for time. Sir.20:8 He who speaks many words will be detested, and he who extorts the right to speak will be hated. Sir.20:9 Success comes to a man's evil, but his gain leads to loss. Sir.20:10 There is a giving that will not benefit you, and there is a giving for which there is a special reward. 9–10. It all depends on how in this case a person will use his success and discovery - for the good of himself and his neighbors, or for evil. Sir.20:11 There is humiliation for glory, but others raise their heads from humiliation. Sir.20:12 Some buy a lot with little and pay seven times more for it. 11–12. There is humiliation followed by glory for a person; and it happens that glory greatly exceeds humiliation. Sir.20:13 The wise in speech becomes amiable, but the kindnesses of fools will remain in vain. Sir.20:14 Giving from a fool will not benefit you; for instead of one he has many eyes for receiving. Sir.20:15 He will give a little, but he will reproach a lot, and he will open his mouth like a herald. Now he lends money, and tomorrow he will demand it back: such a person is hated by the Lord and people. Sir.20:16 The fool says: “I have no friend, and there is no gratitude for my good deeds. Those who eat my bread have flattering tongues.” Sir.20:17 How often and how many will mock him! 14–17. The benefits of an unreasonable person do not always serve as a consolation to the benefited person, since an unreasonable benefactor loves to publicize the benefit he has done and demand from the person he has benefited loud gratitude and speedy compensation for the help provided. Sir.20:18 A stumbling block from the ground is better than from the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will soon come. 18. Explained in verses 19-20. Everything is good in due time. And a wise word is useful when it is appropriate. An unreasonable person does not understand this, and for his lack of understanding he is humiliated. Sir.20:19 An unpleasant person is a timeless fable; it will always be on the lips of the ignorant. Sir.20:20 A parable from the mouth of a fool is disgusting, for he will not speak it in due time. Sir.20:21 Someone is kept from sin by poverty, and in this abstinence he will not lament. Sir.20:22 Someone destroys his soul out of timidity, and destroys it out of partiality towards the foolish. 22. Out of timidity, become openly on the side of good; out of partiality towards the insane, i.e., pandering to the wicked. Sir.20:23 Some people, out of shame, make promises to a friend, and without reason make an enemy in him. 23. Another, out of shame, out of sheer false delicacy, makes promises to a friend, and, for some reason not fulfilling them, unnecessarily makes an enemy in him. Sir.20:24 An evil vice in a person is a lie; in the mouths of the ignorant it is always. Sir.20:25 Better is a thief than one who constantly tells lies; but both of them inherit destruction. Sir.20:26 The behavior of a lying person is dishonorable, and his shame is always with him. Sir.20:27 A man who is wise in words will exalt himself, and a man of understanding will please the nobles. Sir.20:28 He who tills the land will increase his haystack, and he who pleases the nobles will receive mercy in case of untruth. Sir.20:29 Treats and gifts blind the eyes of the wise and, like a bridle on the lips, turn away reproof. 29. And, like a bridle on the lips, they turn away reproof, i.e. prevent the required denunciation from being pronounced. – It happens, but it shouldn’t be like that. Sir.20:30 Hidden wisdom and hidden treasure - what is the use of both? Sir.20:31 Better is a man who hides his foolishness than a man who hides his wisdom.