20 Wine and music rejoice the heart. The love of wisdom is better than both. (WEB) 21 The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both. (WEB) 22 Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both. (WEB)
Sirach 40:20–22
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 32:5–7
5 As a ruby signet in a setting of gold, so is a music concert at a wine banquet. (WEB) 6 As an emerald signet in a work of gold, so is musical melody with pleasant wine. (WEB) 7 Speak, young man, if you are obliged to, but no more than twice, and only if asked. (WEB)
Proverbs 16:23–25
23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Sirach 36:21–23
21 A woman will receive any man, but one daughter is better than another. (WEB) 22 The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance. A man desires nothing more. (WEB) 23 If kindness and humility are on her tongue, her husband is not like other sons of men. (WEB)
Sirach 18:16–18
16 Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat? So a word is better than a gift. (WEB) 17 Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift? Both are with a gracious person. (WEB) 18 A fool is ungracious and abusive. The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes. (WEB)
Sirach 20:12–14
12 There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold. (WEB) 13 He who is wise in words will make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted. (WEB) 14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of o… (WEB)
Sirach 31:27–29
27 Wine is as good as life to men, if you drink it in moderation. What life is there to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad. (WEB) 28 Wine drunk in season and in moderation is joy of heart and gladness of soul: (WEB) 29 Wine drunk excessively is bitterne… (WEB)
Sirach 6:4–6
4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies. (WEB) 5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies. (WEB) 6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousan… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 7:4–6
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool.…
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