“Discussion
Is at the beginning of every work.
Counsel precedes every undertaking.
The mind
Is the root of all conduct.
It sprouts four branches,
Good and evil,
Life and death.
The tongue continually rules them.
Some people may be
Clever enough to teach many.
Yet they may be
Useless to themselves.
A skilful speaker may be hated.
He will be destitute of all food.
The Lord has withheld
The gift of charm.
He is lacking in all wisdom.”
Sirach points out that some discussion precedes all actions. Thus counsel and advice precede any undertaking. The mind is the source of all conduct. There are 4 branches to the mind, good, evil, life, and death. This is hard to figure out. I am not sure how the mind controls life and death, except spiritually. Good and evil are easy to see. The tongue rules over all 4 branches. Once again, it is hard to see how the tongue controls life and death other than in a spiritual way. Some people are clever enough to teach others, but not worth much to themselves. You can be a skilled but hated speaker, so that you might end up with not much food. The Lord may have withheld charm from this speaker, since he is lacking in wisdom.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 