Sirach 5

¹Don’t set your heart upon your goods. Don’t say, “They are sufficient for me.”

²Don’t follow your own mind and your strength to walk in the desires of your heart.¶⇄ (8 connections)

³Don’t say, “Who will have dominion over me?” for the Lord will surely take vengeance on you.

⁴Don’t say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” for the Lord is patient.†⇄ (5 connections)

⁵Don’t be so confident of atonement that you add sin upon sins.†⇄ (13 connections)

⁶Don’t say, “His compassion is great. He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins,” for mercy and wrath are with him, and his indignation will rest on sinners.†⇄ (15 connections)

⁷Don’t wait to turn to the Lord. Don’t put off from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come on you, and you will perish in the time of vengeance.† (4 connections)

⁸Don’t set your heart upon unrighteous gains, for you will profit nothing in the day of calamity.¶†⇄ (13 connections)

⁹Don’t winnow with every wind. Don’t walk in every path. This is what the sinner who has a double tongue does.†⇄ (12 connections)

¹⁰Be steadfast in your understanding. Let your speech be consistent.

¹¹Be swift to hear and answer with patience.⇄ (1 connection)

¹²If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth.

¹³Glory and dishonor is in talk. A man’s tongue may be his downfall.† (1 connection)

¹⁴Don’t be called a whisperer. Don’t lie in wait with your tongue; for shame is on the thief, and an evil condemnation is on him who has a double tongue.

¹⁵Don’t be ignorant in a great or small matter.