17 Don’t consult with a fool, for he will not be able to keep a secret. (WEB) 18 Do no secret thing before a stranger, for you don’t know what it will cause. (WEB) 19 Don’t open your heart to every man. Don’t let him return you a favor. (WEB)
Sirach 8:17–19
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 11:28–30
28 Call no man happy before his death. A man will be known in his children. (WEB) 29 Don’t bring every man into your house, for many are the tricks of a deceitful man. (WEB) 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)
Sirach 27:15–17
15 The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear. (WEB) 16 He who reveals secrets destroys trust, and will not find a close friend. (WEB) 17 Love a friend, and keep faith with him; but if you reveal his secrets, you shall not foll… (WEB)
Sirach 37:9–11
9 and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you. (WEB) 10 Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. (WEB) 11 Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward… (WEB)
Proverbs 23:8–10
8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Sirach 19:6–8
6 He who hates gossip has less wickedness. (WEB) 7 Never repeat what is told you, and you won’t lose anything. (WEB) 8 Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it. Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it. (WEB)
Proverbs 14:6–8
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
Proverbs 20:18–20
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance. 19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips. 20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
Sirach 13:11–13
11 Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; for he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner. (WEB) 12 He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind. (WEB) 13 Keep them to y… (WEB)
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