Ben Sira 32:6-16

6 Good music and good wine - an emerald set in gold.
7 If you are young, don't speak unless you have to, but never more than twice, and only if someone speaks to you first.
8 Come to the point and say it all in a few words. Show that you are well-informed, but stay quiet.
9 Don't treat important people as if you were their equal and don't make a nuisance of yourself by asking them a lot of questions.
10 The reputation of a modest person goes before him, as lightning before thunder.
11 Leave the party at the right time and never be the last to go. Don't linger at the door; just go straight home.
12 There you can enjoy yourself as you wish, but don't commit the sin of bragging.
13 And don't forget to thank your Creator for letting you enjoy so many good things.
14 If you fear the Lord, you will accept his correction. He will bless those who get up early in the morning to pray.
15 Study his Law, and you will master it, unless you are insincere about it, in which case you will fail.
16 If you fear the Lord, you will know what is right, and you will be famous for your fairness.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Hebrew] make . . . questions; [Greek] keep talking when someone else is speaking.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.