12 There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold. (WEB) 13 He who is wise in words will make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted. (WEB) 14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of one. (WEB)
Sirach 20:12–14
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 37:18–20
18 four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue. (WEB) 19 There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. (WEB) 20 There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated.… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Sirach 18:16–18
16 Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat? So a word is better than a gift. (WEB) 17 Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift? Both are with a gracious person. (WEB) 18 A fool is ungracious and abusive. The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes. (WEB)
Proverbs 14:23–25
23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly. 25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
Proverbs 10:7–9
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8 A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin. 9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Proverbs 10:13–15
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. 14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction. 15 The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
Sirach 14:3–5
3 Riches are not appropriate for a stingy person. What would a miser do with money? (WEB) 4 He who gathers by denying himself gathers for others. Others will revel in his goods. (WEB) 5 If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good? He won’t enjoy his possessions. (WEB)
Proverbs 17:7–9
7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler! 8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds. 9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
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