Ben Sira 19:13-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 Admonish your friend—he may not have done it;
and if he did, that he may not do it again.(A)
14 Admonish your neighbor—he may not have said it;
and if he did, that he may not say it again.
15 Admonish your friend—often it may be slander;
do not believe every story.
16 Then, too, a person can slip and not mean it;
who has not sinned with his tongue?(B)
17 Admonish your neighbor before you break with him;
and give due place to the Law of the Most High.[a](C)
Footnotes
- 19:17
Other ancient texts read as vv. 18–19:
18Fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance;
and wisdom from him obtains love.
19Knowledge of the Lord’s commandments is life-giving instruction;
those who do what pleases him will harvest the fruit of the tree of immortality.
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