Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach 20

(ⲁ︦) ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ϫⲡⲓⲟ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉϭⲱⲛⲧ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧⲣ̅ϩⲧⲏϥ ⲛⲁⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ. (3) How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so shalt thou escape wilful sin.
(ⲃ︦) ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲣ̅ ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲟⲛⲥ̅. (4) As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with violence.
(ⲅ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲕⲱ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱϥ ⲉϣⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϣⲁⲩⲙⲉⲥⲧⲱϥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ. (5) There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becometh hateful.
(ⲇ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲕⲱ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱϥ ⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲉϫⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲕⲱ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱϥ ⲉϥϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ. (6) Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his time.
(ⲉ︦) ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ϣⲁϥⲕⲁ ⲣⲱϥ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ .......... ϣⲁϥⲣ̅... ⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ. (7) A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.
(ⲋ︦) ⲡⲉⲧⲟ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ϣⲁⲩϥⲱⲧⲉ .... ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϯⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϩⲧⲟⲣ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲉⲥⲧⲱϥ. (8) He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.
(ⲍ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲟⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϭⲓⲛⲉ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉⲩϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ. (9) There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss.
(ⲏ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϯ ⲉⲛϥ̅ⲣ̅ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϯ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲧⲱⲱⲃⲉ ⲕⲏⲃ. (10) There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.
(ⲑ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲣ̅ϭⲣⲱϩ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩϯⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲟ. (11) There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate.
(ⲓ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧϣⲉⲡ ϩⲁϩ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ̈ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϥ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲃⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁϣϥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲕⲱⲃ. (12) There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.
(ⲓ︦ⲁ︦) ⲡⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ϣⲁϥⲧⲣⲉⲩⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧϥ̅ ⲛⲉⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲥⲟϭ ⲛⲁⲡⲱⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. (13) A wise man by his words maketh him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
(ⲓ︦ⲃ︦) ⲙⲛ̅ ϯ ⲛ̅ⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲛⲁⲣ̅ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ ⲛⲁⲕ: ϩⲁϩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁ. (14) The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive many things for one.
(ⲓ︦ⲅ︦) ϥⲛⲁϯ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛ̅ϩⲛ̅ⲕⲟⲩⲓ̈ ⲛϥ̅ϫⲡⲓⲟⲕ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲛϥ̅ⲟⲩⲏⲛ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱϥ ⲉϫⲱⲕ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲕⲏⲣⲩⲝ̅. (15) He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth like a crier;
(ⲓ︦ⲇ︦) ϥⲛⲁϯ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲥⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϥ̅ⲧⲟⲕ ⲥⲉ ⲛ̅ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ: ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲥⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓ̈ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ϩⲉ. to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.
(ⲓ︦ⲉ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲥⲟϭ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ϯ ϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ϩⲙⲟⲧ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ: ⲉⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲩⲗⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲟⲉⲓⲕ. (16) The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.
(ⲓ︦ⲋ︦) ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲡ ....ⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ .. (17) How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he knoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him as if he had it not.
(ⲓ︦ⲍ︦) ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ... ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲉϩⲟⲩ ⲉ....ⲗⲁⲥ: ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲧⲟⲡ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ (18) To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
(ⲓ︦ⲏ︦) ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲧϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲟⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲡⲉ ... ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲁϣⲁⲓ̈ ϩⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲧⲥⲃⲱ. (19) An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
(ⲓ︦ⲑ︦) ϣⲁⲩⲥⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲟⲗⲏ ϩⲛ̅ ⲣⲱϥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲟϭ: ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ. (20) A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool’s mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.
(ⲕ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧϩⲏⲕⲉ. (21) There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.
(ⲕ︦ⲁ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲥⲉⲣⲙ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϥ̅ⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϫⲓϩⲟ. (22) There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.
(ⲕ︦ⲃ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡϣⲓⲡⲉ. (23) There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.
(ⲕ︦ⲅ︦) ⲟⲩϫⲃⲓⲛ ⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡϭⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ: ⲉϥⲛⲁⲁϣⲁⲓ̈ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲧⲥⲃⲱ. (24) A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.
(ⲕ︦ⲇ︦) ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϩⲱϥⲧ ⲉϩⲟⲩ ⲉⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲁϣⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϫⲓϭⲟⲗ ⲉⲩⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (25) A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage.
(ⲕ︦ⲉ︦) ⲟⲩⲥⲱϣ ⲡⲉ ⲫⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥϫⲓϭⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϥϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲟϣ ⲛⲉⲙⲁϥ. (26) The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.
(ⲕ︦ⲋ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ϩⲟⲛϥ̅ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ϣⲁϥⲁⲣⲉⲥⲕⲉ ⲛ̅... (27) A wise man shall promote himself to honour with his words: and he that hath understanding will please great men.
(ⲕ︦ⲍ︦) .... ⲡⲉϥⲕⲁϩ ϥ.... ...... ⲁⲣⲉⲥⲕⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲛ̅ⲁ... ⲉϥⲛⲁⲣ̅.... ϫⲓⲛ̅ϭⲟⲛⲥ̅. (28) He that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.
(ⲕ︦ⲏ︦) ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ ϣⲁ ...ⲙ̅ ⲛ̅ⲃⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁϥⲕⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϫⲡⲓⲟ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲧⲟⲃ ⲉϥϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ. (29) Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove.
(ⲕ︦ⲑ︦) ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲉⲥϩⲏⲡ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲁϩⲟ ⲉⲛϥ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲩϩⲏⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ; (30) Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both?
(ⲗ︦) ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥϩⲱⲡ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲟϭ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲉϥϩⲱⲡ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉ. (31) Better is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his wisdom.