Read & explore together
Sloth and undisciplined children bring shame
Sirach 22:1–6 uses sharp comparisons to warn about laziness, lack of discipline, shameful behaviour and badly timed speech. These sayings are brief, but they press the reader to notice how conduct affects reputation, family life and wise correction.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage comes from Sirach, a book in the Catholic additional books. In these verses, the speaker gives a series of wisdom sayings. The sayings compare sloth, undisciplined children, shameful behaviour and ill-timed conversation with vivid images so the reader can weigh what is disgraceful and what is wise.
Sirach 22:1–6Main takeaway
This passage teaches that laziness, undisciplined behaviour, arrogance and poorly timed words bring shame, while correction belongs with wisdom.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Sloth pictured as disgraceThe first two sayings compare a slothful person to things people do not want to keep close: a defiled stone and the filth of a dunghill.
Explanation
The first two sayings compare a slothful person to things people do not want to keep close: a defiled stone and the filth of a dunghill. The point is not about the objects themselves, but about disgrace. Others respond with hissing, disgust and rejection, showing that laziness is treated as shameful.
02Undisciplined children and family shameVerse 3 says an undisciplined child is a disgrace to his father, and a foolish daughter is born to loss.
Explanation
Verse 3 says an undisciplined child is a disgrace to his father, and a foolish daughter is born to loss. The focus is on the pain and dishonour that foolishness brings into family relationships. Sirach presents discipline as serious because a child’s conduct affects more than the child alone.
03Prudence, shame and arroganceVerses 4 and 5 contrast two kinds of daughters. A prudent daughter is spoken of positively, while a daughter who brings shame or acts arrogantly brings grief and disgrace.
Explanation
Verses 4 and 5 contrast two kinds of daughters. A prudent daughter is spoken of positively, while a daughter who brings shame or acts arrogantly brings grief and disgrace. These sayings stress that prudence and arrogance lead in opposite directions. Sirach highlights the social and family consequences of character.
04The right word at the right timeThe final saying turns to speech and correction. Ill-timed conversation is compared to music during mourning, something out of place rather than helpful.
Explanation
The final saying turns to speech and correction. Ill-timed conversation is compared to music during mourning, something out of place rather than helpful. By contrast, stripes and correction are called wisdom in every season. The saying values fitting words and timely discipline over careless speech.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What do the first two comparisons teach about how Sirach views sloth?
Look closely at the reactions in the verses: people hiss in disgrace and shake the filth from their hand, which shows strong rejection of laziness.
02How does this passage connect a child’s behaviour with the wider family?
Notice the repeated words about disgrace, loss, grief and shame, which show that conduct has effects on parents and household relationships.
03Why is ill-timed conversation compared with music in mourning?
The comparison points to something unsuitable for the moment, while the verse sets correction alongside wisdom as the better response.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 22:1–6
1A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled. Everyone will hiss at him in his disgrace.
2A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill. Anyone who picks it up will shake it out of his hand.
3An undisciplined child is a disgrace to his father, and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
4A prudent daughter will inherit a husband of her own. She who brings shame is the grief of her father.
5She who is arrogant brings shame on father and husband. She will be despised by both of them.
6Ill-timed conversation is like music in mourning, but stripes and correction are wisdom in every season.