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[1] A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled; And every one will hiss him out in his disgrace.

[2] A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: Every man that takes it up will shake out his hand.

[3] A father has shame in having begotten an uninstructedson; And afoolish daughter is born to his loss.

[4] A prudent daughter shall inherit a husband of her own; And she that brings shame is the grief of him that became the father of her

[5] She that is bold brings shame upon father and husband; And she shall be despised of them both.

[6] Unseasonable discourse isas music in mourning; But stripes and correction are wisdom at every season.

[7] He that teacheth a fool isas one that glueth a potsherd together; Even as one that waketh a sleeper out of a deep sleep.

[8] He that discourseth to a fool isas one discoursing to a man that slumbereth; And at the end he will say, What is it?

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[11] Weep for the dead, for light has failedhim; And weep for a fool, for understanding has failedhim: Weep more sweetly for the dead, because he has found rest; But the life of the fool is worse than death.

[12] Seven days arethe days of mourning for the dead; But for a fool and an ungodly man, all the days of his life.

[13] Talk not much with a foolish man, And go not to one that has no understanding: Beware of him, lest you have trouble; Andso you shall not be defiled in his onslaught: Turn aside from him, and you shall find rest; Andso you shall not be wearied in his madness.

[14] What shall be heavier than lead? And what is the name thereof, but a fool?

[15] Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, Than a man without understanding.

[16] Timber girded and bound into a building shall not be loosed with shaking: So a heart established in due season on well advised counsel shall not be afraid.

[17] A heart settled upon a thoughtful understanding Is as an ornament of plaister on a polished wall.

[18] Pales set on a high place will not stand against the wind: So a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool will not stand against any fear.

[19] He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall; And he that pricketh the heart makes it to show feeling.

[20] Whoso casteth a stone at birds frayeth them away; And he that upbraids a friend will dissolve friendship.

[21] If you have drawn a sword against a friend, despair not; For there may be a returning.

[22] If you have opened your mouth against a friend, fear not; For there may be a reconciling; Except it be for upbraiding, and arrogance, and disclosing of a secret, and a treacherous blow: For these things every friend will flee.

[23] Gain trust with your neighbor in his poverty, That in his prosperity you may have gladness: Abide stedfast to him in the time of his affliction, That you may be heir with him in his inheritance.

[24] Before fire is the vapor and smoke of a furnace; So revilings before bloodshed.

[25] I will not be ashamed to shelter a friend; And I will not hide myself from his face:

[26] And if any evil happen to me because of him, Every one that hears it will beware of him.

[27] Who shall set a watch over my mouth, And a seal of shrewdness upon my lips, That I fall not from it, and that my tongue destroy me not?

Ecclesiasticus — Chapters