Sirach 21

¹Son, have you sinned? You should not add further sins. Then too, for your former sins, pray so that they may be forgiven you.

²Flee from sins, as if from the face of a serpent. For if you approach them, they will take hold of you.

³Their teeth are like the teeth of a lion, bringing death to the souls of men.

⁴All iniquity is like a two-edged spear; there is no healing in its wound.

⁵Reproach and injury will make resources useless. And a house that is exceedingly wealthy will become powerless through pride. In this way, the resources of the arrogant will be eradicated.

⁶Supplications from the mouth of the pauper will reach all the way to the ears of God, and judgment will come to him quickly.

⁷Whoever hates correction is walking in the steps of a sinner. But whoever fears God will convert within his heart.

⁸He who has power by means of a bold tongue will be known from far away. But an understanding man knows to slip past him.

⁹Whoever builds his house, paid for by another, is like one who gathers his building stones in winter.

¹⁰The synagogue of sinners is like stubble piled up; for the end of them both is a burning fire.

¹¹The way of sinners is paved and level, and at their end is hell and darkness and punishments.

¹²Whoever observes justice will obtain an understanding of it.

¹³The consummation of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.

¹⁴One who is not wise in goodness will not accept instruction.

¹⁵Now there is a wisdom which abounds in evil. But there is no understanding where there is bitterness.

¹⁶The knowledge of the wise will increase like a flood, and his counsel will continue like a fountain of life.

¹⁷The heart of the foolish is like a broken vessel, for it will not hold any wisdom.

¹⁸A knowledgeable man will praise any wise word he hears, and he will apply it to himself. The self-indulgent man has heard it, and it displeases him, and so he casts it behind his back.

¹⁹The talk of the foolish is like a burden on a journey. But in the lips of the understanding, grace will be found.

²⁰The mouth of the prudent is sought in the Church, and they will consider his words in their hearts.

²¹Like a house which has been demolished, so is wisdom to the foolish. And the knowledge of the unwise is like meaningless words.

²²Doctrine to the senseless is like fetters on the feet, and like chains on the right hand.

²³A foolish man lifts up his voice in laughter. But a wise man will not even laugh quietly to himself.

²⁴Doctrine is to the prudent like a gold ornament, and like an armband on the right arm.

²⁵The feet of the foolish step easily into his neighbor’s house. But an experienced man will be apprehensive in the presence of the powerful.

²⁶A senseless man will gaze through a window into the house. But a man who has been well-taught will stand outside.

²⁷It is foolish for a man to listen through the door. And a prudent man will be grieved at this disgrace.

²⁸The lips of the imprudent will describe senseless things. But the words of the prudent will be weighed on a balance.

²⁹The hearts of the foolish are in their mouths. But the mouths of the wise are with their hearts.

³⁰Whenever the impious curse the devil, they curse their own soul.

³¹Those who whisper accusations defile their own souls, and they will be hated by all. And whoever abides with them will be hateful. The silent and understanding man will be honored.

Sirach 21

¹My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee.

²Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee.

³The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men.

⁴All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.

⁵Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out.

⁶The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.

⁷He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.

⁸He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him.

⁹He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.

¹⁰The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire.

¹¹The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is hell, and darkness, and pains.

¹²He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof.

¹³The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.

¹⁴He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.

¹⁵But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.

¹⁶The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.

¹⁷The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.

¹⁸A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back.

¹⁹The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the lips of the wise, grace shall be found.

²⁰The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts.

²¹As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.

²²Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.

²³A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself.

²⁴Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.

²⁵The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty.

²⁶A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that is well taught will stand without.

²⁷It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.

²⁸The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things: but the words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance.

²⁹The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men is in their heart.

³⁰While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul.

³¹The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and wise man shall be honoured.