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1The one who does this will not become rich;[#Prov 21.17; #19.1 Heb: Gk A worker who is a drunkard]
one who despises small things will fail little by little.
2Wine and women lead intelligent men astray,[#1 Kings 11.1–4; Prov 31.3–5; Hos 4.11]
and the man who consorts with prostitutes is reckless.
3Decay and worms will take possession of him,[#Isa 51.8]
and the reckless person will be snatched away.
4One who trusts quickly has a shallow mind,
and one who sins does wrong to himself.
5One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,[#19.5 Other ancient authorities read heart; #19.5 Other ancient authorities add but one who withstands pleasures crowns his life. One who controls the tongue will live without strife,]
6but one who hates discussion lacks understanding.[#Prov 21.23; Jas 3.2]
7Never repeat a conversation,
and you will lose nothing at all.
8With friend or foe do not report it,
and unless it would be a sin for you do not reveal it,
9for someone may have heard you and watched you
and in time will hate you.
10Have you heard something? Let it die with you.[#Job 32.19]
Be brave; it will not make you burst!
11Having heard something, the fool suffers birth pangs
like a woman in labor with a child.
12Like an arrow stuck in a person’s thigh,[#Sir 21.14; 33.5]
so is gossip in the belly of a fool.
13Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it;[#Lev 19.17]
or if he did, so that he may not do it again.
14Question a neighbor; perhaps he did not say it;
or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it.
15Question a friend, for often it is slander;
so do not believe every word.
16A person may make a slip without intending it.[#Sir 14.1]
Who has not sinned with his tongue?
17Question your neighbor before you threaten him,[#Lev 19.17]
and make room for the law of the Most High.
20The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord,[#Sir 1.14]
and in all wisdom there is the fulfillment of the law.
22The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom,[#Jer 4.22]
nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.
23There is a cleverness that is detestable,
and there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.
24Better are the God-fearing who lack understanding[#Sir 25.10, 11]
than the highly intelligent who transgress the law.
25There is a cleverness that is exact but unjust,
and there are people who abuse favors to gain a verdict.
26There are villains bowed down in mourning,[#Sir 12.11]
but inwardly they are full of deceit.
27They hide their faces and pretend not to hear,
but when no one notices, they will take advantage of you.
28Even if lack of strength keeps them from sinning,
they will nevertheless do evil when they find the opportunity.
29People will be known by their appearances,[#Isa 3.9]
and sensible people will be known when first met face to face.
30People’s attire and hearty laughter[#Eccl 7.6; Isa 3.16; Sir 21.20]
and the way they walk proclaim things about them.