Sirach 20:16-18

Common English Bible

¹⁶ Fools say, “I don’t have a friend,
    and there’s no gratitude
    for my good deeds.”
    Those who eat the bread of such people
    have mean tongues.
¹⁷ How many will ridicule them,
and how often?^[a]

¹⁸ A slip on the pavement is preferable
to a slip of the tongue;
    so the downfall of evil people
    will come quickly.