Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Chapter 19

A worker that is a drunkard shall not become rich; and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little. The destructive poverty of the drunkard and the careless: drunkenness dissipates resources, and contempt for small things leads to gradual ruin. Lapide expounds the economic and moral dimensions of temperance.

Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the sensible. Wine and women are the classic Solomonic dangers to wisdom. Lapide cites the fall of Samson, David, Solomon, and numerous others to illustrate the historical reality of this warning.

He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart; and shall be lessened. Rashness in believing accusations or rumors diminishes prudence and leads to unjust judgments. Lapide advises the reader to suspend judgment until evidence is clear.

Rehearse not the word which thou hast heard, and disclose not things that are spoken in secret. The virtue of discretion in keeping secrets and not spreading rumors. Lapide treats this as a specific application of the general virtue of prudence: what is heard in confidence must be buried like a dying fire.

Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee. Heard rumors must be buried alive, not reported or spread. Lapide develops the image of containing a secret: like a burning ember that must be smothered rather than fanned.

Admonish a friend—it may be he did not say it; and if he did say it, that he may say it no more. The principle of fraternal correction: first admonish, because the report may be false; if true, correct so the sin is not repeated. Lapide structures a systematic theology of fraternal correction from this verse, citing Christ's teaching in Matthew 18.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and wisdom has been given to all the faithful. The fear of the Lord is identified with the whole of practical wisdom. Lapide treats this as the chapter's theological center: all social prudence finds its root in the fear of God.

By his look a man is known; and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance. The external bearing of a person—gait, laughter, clothing, gaze—reveals interior character. Lapide develops an extensive physiognomy of virtue and vice based on this verse, citing Aristotle, Cicero, and the Fathers.