Read & explore together
Question a friend before believing an accusation
Sirach 19:13–17 gives practical wisdom for handling accusations and harmful speech. Rather than rushing to believe or threaten someone, it teaches careful questioning, restraint, and correction shaped by the law of the Most High.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is from Sirach, a wisdom book in the Catholic additional books. These verses give direct instructions about questioning a friend or neighbour, recognising slander, not trusting every word, remembering sins of the tongue, and reproving a neighbour while giving place to the law of the Most High.
Sirach 19:13–19 (source bridge 18–19)Main takeaway
Wise response to an accusation begins by asking carefully, judging words cautiously, and correcting with restraint.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Question the person firstThe passage begins with a command to question a friend. The reason is simple and careful: the person may not have done what is being said.
Explanation
The passage begins with a command to question a friend. The reason is simple and careful: the person may not have done what is being said. Even if the report is true, Sirach allows room for change, saying the person may do it no more. This slows down quick judgement.
02Treat reported words the same waySirach then applies the same wisdom to speech. A neighbour may not have said the reported words.
Explanation
Sirach then applies the same wisdom to speech. A neighbour may not have said the reported words. Even if the person did say them, the text still does not urge instant punishment, because it may not be said again. The passage calls for patience when words are reported second-hand.
03Do not trust every wordVerse 15 states the principle directly. A person should question a friend because slander happens many times.
Explanation
Verse 15 states the principle directly. A person should question a friend because slander happens many times. For that reason, Sirach says not to trust every word. The warning is not that words never matter, but that a report should not be accepted as true without care.
04Correct with humility and restraintSirach notes that someone may slip without meaning it from the heart, and asks who has not sinned with the tongue.
Explanation
Sirach notes that someone may slip without meaning it from the heart, and asks who has not sinned with the tongue. Then it says to reprove a neighbour before threatening him, and to give place to the law of the Most High. Correction should be sober and measured.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated reason does Sirach give for questioning a friend or neighbour first?
Notice that the person may not have done or said it, and even if true, the matter may not continue.
02Why does the passage say, 'Don’t trust every word'?
Use the line about slander happening many times to explain the warning.
03How do verses 16 and 17 guide the tone of correction?
Link common sins of the tongue with reproof before threats and giving place to the law of the Most High.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 19:13–17
13Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it. If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more.
14Question your neighbor; it may be he didn’t say it. If he has said it, it may be that he may not say it again.
15Question a friend; for many times there is slander. Don’t trust every word.
16There is one who slips, and not from the heart. Who is he who hasn’t sinned with his tongue?
17Reprove your neighbor before you threaten him; and give place to the law of the Most High.
Source passages
Source: Sirach 19 ↗Translation and source notes
Some verse numbers are represented by textual notes in World English Bible Classic. The reading below follows the text printed in the main passage.