Sirach 15

¹ Nyle thou be angwischid in vniust richessis; for tho schulen not profite in the dai of failing, ether of deth, and of veniaunce. ² Wyndewe thee not in to ech wynd, and go thou not in to ech weie; for so a synnere is preued in double tunge. ³ Be thou stidfast in the weie of the Lord, and in treuthe and kunnyng of thi wit; and the word of pees and riytfulnesse sue thee perfitli. ⁴ Be thou mylde to here the word of God, that thou vndurstonde, and with wisdom brynge thou forth a trewe answere. ⁵ If thou hast vndirstondyng, answere thi neiybore; ellis thin hond be on thi mouth, lest thou be takun in a word vnwiseli tauyt, and be aschamed. ⁶ Onour and glorie is in the word of a wijs man; but the tunge of an vnprudent man is his distriyng. ⁷ Be thou not clepid a preuy yuel spekere in thi lijf, and be thou not takun in thi tunge, and be aschamed. ⁸ Schame and penaunce is on a theef, and worst schenschip is on a man of double tunge. Forsothe hatrede and enemytee and dispisyng is to a preuy bacbitere. ⁹ Iustifie thou a litil man and a greet man in lijk maner. ¹¹ Nile thou for a freend be maad enemye to the neiybore; for whi an yuele man schal enherite vpbreidyng and dispisyng, and ech synnere enuyouse and double tungid. ¹² Enhaunse thee not in the thouyt of thi soule, as a bole doith; lest thi vertu be hurtlid doun bi foli, ¹³ and it ete thi leeues, and leese thi fruytis, and thou be left as a drye tree in deseert. ¹⁴ Forsothe a wickid soule schal leese hym that hath it, and it yyueth hym in to the ioie of the enemye, and it schal leede forth in to the part of wickid men. ¹⁵ A swete word multiplieth frendis, and swagith enemyes; and a tunge wel graciouse schal be plenteuouse in a good man. ¹⁶ Many pesible men be to thee, and oon of a thousynde be a counselour to thee. ¹⁷ If thou hast a frend, haue hym in temptacioun, and bitake not liytli thi silf to hym. ¹⁸ For ther is a frend bi his time, and he schal not dwelle in the dai of tribulacioun. ¹⁹ And ther is a frend which is turned to enemytee; and ther is a freend, that schal schewe opynli hatrede, and chiding, and dispisyngis. ²⁰ Forsothe ther is a frend, felowe of table, and dwellith not in the dai of nede.