DRC - Sirach - 32

32:1  Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

32:2  Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

32:3  That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

32:4  Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

32:5  To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.

32:6  Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.

32:7  A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

32:8  As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

32:9  Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

32:10  Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

32:11  If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

32:12  In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

32:13  In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

32:14  Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

32:15  And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

32:16  And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

32:17  And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

32:18  He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

32:19  He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

32:20  They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

32:21  A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

32:22  A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

32:23  Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

32:24  My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

32:25  Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

32:26  And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

32:27  In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

32:28  He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.