04_Reymond_224_246 15/07/14 12:18 Pagina 232 232 ERIC D. REYMOND izes as dire (Sir 27,16-19). Conversely, those Ben Sira refers to as “fools” may utter the right words, but, if they do, it is always at the wrong time and, therefore, they count for naught. From a fool’s mouth a proverb (parabolh,) is rejected for he does not say it at the right time (Sir 20,20; Gr) 15. As with the other passages discussed above, the same words can be construed differently based on their context. On the other hand, a shift in the temporal context of advice might make it more mean- ingful, as suggested by Ben Sira’s address: “Listen, my child, do not despise me, later you will accept my words” (Sir 31,22, Ms B) 16. Ben Sira also recognizes that not knowing the original context in which something was said means that one does not know its real significance. Such seems to be implied in verses that address the proper response at hearing gossip. Admonish a friend, for often it is (just) slander; and do not believe everything you hear (lit., every word). There is one who slips (in speech), but not from intention (avpo. yuch/j), and who has not sinned with his tongue? (Sir 19,15-16; Gr) 17. Here, Ben Sira insists that it is necessary to find the person about whom something is said before trusting gossip about his or her ap- parent fault; this reflects, in part, an unreliability due to an unknown original context. For example, what a person hears about a friend’s speech-fault (whatever the specific nature of that fault is) may ob- scure the off-hand way in which it was said, or some other detail that would reveal it to be unintentional 18. 15 The Syriac has the same sense, though it has mlt’ (“word”) where the Greek has parabolh,. 16 I assume yrma gyXt tyrxabw yl zwbt la ynb [mX for the Hebrew text of Ms B, which follows the reading of earlier scholars, like LÉVI, L’Ecclési- astique, 2:46, and most others. 17 The Greek avpo. yuch/j probably reflects the Hebrew bl-!m, as in Num 16,28 and Lam 3,33. 18 See observations on this passage in GREGORY, “Slips of the Tongue”, 331-332.