Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Chapter 20

How much better is it to reprove than to be angry; and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer. A measured reproof is worth more than an outburst of anger. Lapide treats fraternal correction as an act of charity that must be distinguished sharply from emotional venting.

There is one that holdeth his peace that is found wise; and there is another that is hateful that is bold in speech. Wise silence is distinguished from foolish silence; bold speech from wise speech. Lapide develops a taxonomy of four types of silence (prudent, stupid, timid, and holy) and their corresponding modes of speech.

There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward: In that he saith: I have found rest for myself, and now I will eat of my goods alone. Paradoxes of fortune: what appears success leads to ruin; what appears loss leads to gain. Lapide uses these paradoxes to illustrate God's sovereign inversion of human expectations.

A wise man by his words maketh himself beloved, but the graces of fools shall be poured out to waste. The power of wise speech to generate love; the futility of the fool's gifts and words. Lapide expounds why wisdom in speech is more effective than material generosity without it.

There is one that of bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing. False shame (bashful over-promising) creates enemies. Lapide distinguishes \"confusio bona\" (shame that prevents sin) from \"confusio mala\" (shame that prevents virtue); this is a case of the latter.

A liar's shame is the lot of a disgraceful man; and his dishonesty is always with him. The liar is defined by his dishonesty; it accompanies him everywhere like a shadow. Lapide treats habitual lying as a fundamental deformation of personality that makes all social trust impossible.