Sirach 21

My son, hast thou sinned? ^ado so no more,

But ^bask pardon for thy former sins.

²Flee from sin as from the face of ^ca serpent:

For if thou comest too near it, it will ^cbite thee:

The teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion,

^dSlaying the souls of men.

³All iniquity is as ^ea twoedged sword,

The wounds whereof cannot be healed.

⁴To terrify and do wrong will waste riches:

Thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.

^5fA prayer out of a poor man’s mouth reacheth to the ears of God,

And his judgment cometh speedily.

^6gHe that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners:

But he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.

⁷An eloquent man is known far and near;

But a man of understanding knoweth when he ^hslippeth.

⁸ⁱHe that buildeth his house with other men’s money

Is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.

^9kThe congregation of the wicked is like ^ltow wrapped together:

And the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.

¹⁰The way of sinners is ^mmade plain with stones,

ⁿBut at the end thereof is the pit of hell.

^11oHe that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof:

And the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

^12pHe that is not wise will not be taught:

But ^qthere is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.

¹³The knowledge of a wise man ^rshall abound like a flood:

And his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.

^14sThe inner parts of a fool are like ^ta broken vessel,

And he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.

¹⁵If a skilful man hear a wise word,

He will commend it, and ^uadd unto it:

But as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him,

And ^vhe casteth it behind his back.

¹⁶The talking of a fool is like ^wa burden in the way:

But ^xgrace shall be found in the lips of the wise.

¹⁷They inquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation,

And they shall ponder his words in their heart.

¹⁸As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool:

And the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.

¹⁹Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet,

And like manacles on the right hand.

^20yA fool lifteth up his voice with laughter;

But a ^zwise man doth scarce smile a little.

²¹Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold,

And like a ^abracelet upon his right arm.

^22bA foolish man’s foot is soon in his neighbour’s house:

But a man of experience is ashamed of him.

²³A fool will ^cpeep in at the door into the house:

But he that is well nurtured will stand without.

²⁴It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door:

But a wise man will be grieved with disgrace.

²⁵The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them:

But the words of such as have understanding are ^dweighed in the balance.

^26eThe heart of fools is in their mouth:

But the mouth of the wise is in their heart.

²⁷When the ungodly curseth ^fSatan,

^gHe curseth his own soul.

^28hA whisperer defileth his own soul,

And is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.

XXII.