14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of one. (WEB) 15 He will give little and insult much. He will open his mouth like a crier. Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask for it back. Such a one is a hateful man. (WEB) 16 The fool will say, “I have no friend, and I have no thanks for my good deeds. Those who eat my bread have an evil tongue.” (WEB)
Sirach 20:14–16
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 18:17–19
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) 19 Learn before you speak. Take care of your health before you get sick. (WEB)
Sirach 29:4–6
4 Many have considered a loan to be a windfall, and have given trouble to those who helped them. (WEB) 5 Until he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands. For his neighbor’s money he will speak submissively. Then when payment is due, he will prolong the time, return ex… (WEB)
Sirach 12:4–6
4 Give to the godly man, and don’t help the sinner. (WEB) 5 Do good to one who is lowly. Don’t give to an ungodly man. Keep back his bread, and don’t give it to him, lest he subdue you with it; for you would receive twice as much evil for all the good you would have don… (WEB)
Proverbs 23:5–7
5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. 6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies; 7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to y…
Sirach 27:22–24
22 One who winks the eye contrives evil things; and those who know him will keep their distance. (WEB) 23 When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words; but afterward he will twist his speech and set a trap in your words. (WEB) 24 I have hated many things,… (WEB)
Sirach 11:30–32
30 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man. Like a spy, he looks for your weakness. (WEB) 31 For he lies in wait to turn things that are good into evil, and assigns blame in things that are praiseworthy. (WEB) 32 From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals i… (WEB)
Sirach 20:9–11
9 There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes; and there is a gain that turns to loss. (WEB) 10 There is a gift that will not profit you; and there is a gift that pays back double. (WEB) 11 There are losses because of glory; and there is one who has lifted up his head fr… (WEB)
Sirach 20:22–24
22 There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness. By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it. (WEB) 23 There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend; and he makes him his enemy for nothing. (WEB) 24 A lie is an ugly blot on a person. It will be continuall… (WEB)
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