Ecclesiasticus 21
21
1My son, hast thou sinned? #ch. 5.5.add no more thereto;
And make supplication for thy former sins.
2Flee from sin as from the face of #Cp. Prov. 23.32.a serpent;
For if thou draw nigh it will bite thee:
The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion,
Slaying the souls of men.
3All iniquity is as a twoedged sword;
Its stroke hath no healing.
4TERROR and violence will lay waste riches;
So the house of a haughty man shall be laid waste.
5 # Ex. 3.9,22,23. Job 34.28. Ps. 34.6. Supplication from a poor man's mouth reacheth to the ears of #21.5 Gr. him.God,
And his judgement cometh speedily.
6 #
Prov. 12.1 & 15.10. One that hateth reproof is in the path of the sinner;
And he that feareth the Lord will turn again in his heart.
7He that is mighty in tongue is known afar off:
But the man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.
8 # Hab. 2.6., Cp. Prov. 24.27. He that buildeth his house with other men's money
Is like one that gathereth himself stones against winter.
9The congregation of wicked men is #Cp. Is. 1.31. as tow wrapped together;
And #ch. 16.6.the end of them is a flame of fire.
10The way of sinners is made smooth with stones;
And at the last end thereof is #Cp. Prov. 7.27.the pit of Hades.
11 # See ch. 1.26. He that keepeth the law becometh master of the intent thereof;
And #ch. 1.18.the end of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
12 #
Prov. 1.7. He that is not clever will not be instructed;
And there is #ch. 19.25.a cleverness which maketh bitterness to abound.
13 # ch. 24.25,26. The knowledge of a wise man shall be made to abound as a flood;
And #Prov. 10.11 & 13.14 & 18.4.his counsel as a fountain of life.
14 # Cp. ch. 19.12. The inward parts of a fool are #Cp. Jer. 2.13 & 48.38.like a broken vessel;
And he will hold no knowledge.
15If a man of knowledge hear a wise word,
He will commend it, and #Prov. 9.9.add unto it:
The dissolute man heareth it, and it displeaseth him,
And he putteth it away behind his back.
16 # Cp. ch. 20.13. The discourse of a fool is like #Cp. ch. 22.15.a burden in the way;
#
Eccles. 10.12. But grace shall be found on the lips of the wise.
17The mouth of the prudent man shall be sought for in the congregation;
And they will ponder his words in their heart.
18AS a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool;
And the knowledge of an unwise man is #Cp. Prov. 15.2. as #21.18 Gr. unexamined words.talk without sense.
19Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man,
And as manacles on the right hand.
20 # ch. 19.30. Eccles. 7.6. A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter;
But #Cp. Eccles. 7.4.a clever man will scarce smile quietly.
21Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold,
And as a bracelet upon his right arm.
22 # Cp. 1 Tim. 5.13. The foot of a fool is soon in another man's house;
But #Cp. Prov. 25.17.a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23A foolish man peepeth in from the door of another man's house;
But a man that is instructed will stand without.
24It is a want of instruction in a man to listen at the door;
But the prudent man will be grieved with the disgrace.
25 # 21.25 The text seems to be uncertain. The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things;
But the words of prudent men #ch. 28.25.will be weighed in the balance.
26 # Cp. ch. 8.17 & Prov. 14.33 & 29.11. The heart of fools is in their mouth;
But the mouth of wise men is their heart.
27When the ungodly curseth #1 Chr. 21.1. Job 1.6. Ps. 109.6 (mg.). Zech. 3.1.Satan,
# Cp. John 8.44. He curseth his own soul.
28 # See ch. 5.14. A whisperer defileth his own soul,
And shall be hated wheresoever he sojourneth.
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Ecclesiasticus 21: RV1895
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