Sirach 1:29 kjva — Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.

King James Version with Apocrypha

“Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.”

— Sirach 1:29, King James Version with Apocrypha

What does this verse mean?

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Sirach 1:29 in Other Translations

1 version All translations

Sirach 1 — Context

26

If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto thee.

27

For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are his delight.

28

Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double heart.

29

Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.

30

Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.

Sirach 1:29 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Sirach 1:29 say?
Sirach 1:29 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.”
Where is Sirach 1:29 in the Bible?
Sirach 1:29 is found in the Apocrypha, in the book of Sirach, chapter 1, verse 29.
Who wrote Sirach?
Sirach is traditionally attributed to Jesus ben Sira of Jerusalem (Greek translation by his grandson). Also known as Ecclesiasticus ("the church book"). The grandson's prologue dates the Greek translation to Egypt c. 132 BC. Significant Hebrew portions survive in the Cairo Geniza and at Masada. It was written c. 180 BC (Hebrew original); c. 132 BC (Greek translation).
What is the book of Sirach about?
Sirach is the longest wisdom book in the broader canon — fifty-one chapters of proverbs, hymns, and reflections on the fear of the Lord. Ben Sira touches every corner of life: speech and silence, business and friendship, family and discipline, table manners and grief. The book closes with the "Praise of the Fathers" (chs. 44–50), a hymnic survey of Israel's heroes from Enoch to the high priest Simon — a forerunner of Hebrews 11.
What are the major themes of Sirach?
Sirach explores themes including Fear of the Lord, Wisdom, Ethics, Friendship, Heroes of Faith. These themes shape the meaning and context of Sirach 1:29.
What translation should I read Sirach 1:29 in?
Sirach 1:29 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Sirach 1:29?
Sirach 1:29 reads (KJVA): “Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

© 2026 GodsGoodBookVersion 2.1.1