Read & explore together
Thought and speech disclose character
Sirach 27:4–15 uses everyday pictures to teach that a person’s inner life shows up in speech and conduct. The passage urges careful listening, steady righteousness and wise choices about whose company to keep.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage from Sirach, a book in the Catholic additional books, speaks in wisdom sayings and comparisons. It moves from images of testing, such as a sieve, a furnace and fruit, to practical warnings about fools, swearing, strife and pride, all within Sirach 27:4–15.
Sirach 27:4–15Main takeaway
This passage teaches that thoughts, words and patterns of conduct reveal character, so wisdom listens carefully and stays close to righteousness and truth.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Testing reveals what is withinSirach begins with pictures of a sieve and a furnace. When something is shaken or heated, what is really there becomes clear.
Explanation
Sirach begins with pictures of a sieve and a furnace. When something is shaken or heated, what is really there becomes clear. In the same way, a person is tested in thoughts. These comparisons show hidden impurity or character being revealed by testing, using the images of refuse and tested vessels.
02Speech shows the heartThe image changes to a tree and its fruit. Fruit shows how a tree has been cultivated, and a person’s utterance shows the thought of the heart.
Explanation
The image changes to a tree and its fruit. Fruit shows how a tree has been cultivated, and a person’s utterance shows the thought of the heart. Because speech can reveal what is inside, the reader is warned not to praise someone too quickly, before hearing what they say.
03Choose righteousness and truthThe next sayings turn from testing to direction. The reader is urged to follow righteousness and is told truth returns to those who practice it.
Explanation
The next sayings turn from testing to direction. The reader is urged to follow righteousness and is told truth returns to those who practice it. Sin, however, is pictured as dangerous and ready to seize those who do evil. These lines contrast two paths and their very different companions.
04Stay near thoughtful speechSirach contrasts the godly and the fool. The godly person’s discourse is always wise, while the fool is unstable.
Explanation
Sirach contrasts the godly and the fool. The godly person’s discourse is always wise, while the fool is unstable. So the reader should limit time with the void of understanding and persevere among the thoughtful. Foolish talk is described as offensive, reckless and full of destructive strife.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Sirach use pictures like a sieve, a furnace and fruit?
These comparisons show that testing and speech bring hidden character into view rather than creating it.
02What warning is given before praising someone?
Look for the line that says a person should be heard first, because speech reveals thoughts.
03How does the passage contrast the company of the thoughtful with the speech of fools?
Notice the advice about persevering among the thoughtful and the strong descriptions of foolish talk, swearing and strife.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 27:4–15
4In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains, so does the filth of man in his thoughts.
5The furnace tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his thoughts.
6The fruit of a tree discloses its cultivation, so is the utterance of the thought of a person’s heart.
7Praise no man before you hear his thoughts, for this is how people are tested.
8If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it, and put it on like a long robe of glory.
9Birds will return to their own kind, so truth will return to those who practice it.
10The lion lies in wait for prey. So does sin for those who do evil.
11The discourse of a godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12Limit your time among people void of understanding, but persevere among the thoughtful.
13The talk of fools is offensive. Their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright. Their strife makes others plug their ears.
15The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear.