Sirach 4:20-5:7

Good News Translation

Self-confidence

²⁰ Take advantage of opportunities, but guard yourself against evil. Don't underrate yourself. ²¹ Humility deserves honor and respect, but a low opinion of yourself leads to sin. ²² Do not let others have their way at your expense; do not bring on your own ruin by giving up your rights. ²³ Never hesitate to speak out when the occasion^[a] calls for it. Don't hide your wisdom.^{[b] 24} Your wisdom and education can be known only by what you say. ²⁵ Do not, however, go against the truth, and remember that you do not know everything. ²⁶ Don't be ashamed to confess your sins; there's no point in trying to stop a river from flowing. ²⁷ Don't allow yourself to be dominated by someone who is stupid or show partiality to influential people. ²⁸ Stand up for what is right, even if it costs you your life; the Lord God will be fighting on your side.

²⁹ Don't be quick to speak or lazy and negligent in your work. ³⁰ Don't act like a lion at home or be suspicious of your servants. ^31 (A)Don't stick out your hand to get something if you're going to be tightfisted when the time comes to pay it back.

Don't Be Presumptuous

5 Don't rely on money to make you independent. ² Don't think you have to have everything you want, and then spend your energy trying to get it. ³ Don't think that no one can exercise authority over you; if you do, the Lord is certain to punish you. ^4 (B)Don't think that you can sin and get away with it; the Lord does not mind waiting to punish you. ⁵ Don't be so certain of the Lord's forgiveness that you go on committing one sin after another. ⁶ Don't think that his mercy is so great that he will forgive your sins no matter how many they are. He does show mercy, but he also shows his furious anger with sinners. ⁷ Come back to the Lord quickly. Don't think that you can keep putting it off. His anger can come upon you suddenly, and you will die under his punishment.