Ben Sira - chapter 18

18: 1-2, 4-33 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
He Who lives forever has created all things alike; The Lord alone can be thought upright. He has permitted no one to declare His works, and who can track out His mighty deeds? Who can compute the power of His majesty? And who can in addition detail His mercies? It is not possible to take from them or to add to them, or to track out the wonders of the Lord. Where mankind ends, they are just beginning, and when man stops, will they be perplexed? What is humanity and of what use are they? What is the good of them, and what is the evil? The length of an individual's days is great at a hundred years, like a drop of water from the sea, or a grain of sand, are a few years in the day of eternity. Therefore the Lord has been patient with them, and He has poured out his mercy upon them. He sees and recognizes that their end is evil, so He increases his forgiveness. The compassion of human beings is for their neighbors, but the mercy of the Lord is for all humanity, reproving and training and teaching them, and bringing them back as a shepherd does his flock. On those who accept His training He has mercy, and on those who eagerly seek His decrees.
My child, do not spoil your good deeds, or when you make any gift cause pain by what you say. Does not the dew assuage the scorching heat? So a word is more potent than a gift. Why, is not a word better than a gift? Both mark the charitable man; a fool ungraciously abuses people, and a present from a grudging giver makes one cry his eyes out. Learn before you speak, and take care of yourself before you get sick; examine yourself before you are judged, and at the time of visitation you will find forgiveness. Humble yourself before you fall sick, and when you would sin, show repentance instead. Let nothing prevent you from paying your vows in time, and do not wait till you die to be justified. Prepare yourself before you make a vow, and do not be like one who puts the Lord to the test. Think of His wrath in later days, and the time of vengeance, when He turns away His face. Remember the time of famine in the time of plenty, poverty and want in the days of wealth. Between morning and evening the situation changes, and it all passes swiftly in the sight of the Lord. One who is wise is cautious in everything; when sin is all around he is careful not to offend; every intelligent person recognizes wisdom, and will thank the one who finds her. Those who are skilled in the use of words compose cleverly themselves, and pour forth apt proverbs.
SELF-CONTROL (heading in the Greek text)
Do not follow your base impulses, but restrain your longings. If you give assent to the impulse of our heart, it will make you a laughingstock to your enemies. Do not indulge in too much luxury, do not be tied to its expense. Do not be impoverished from feasting on borrowed money when you have nothing in your purse.