Sirach 21
21
1My son, have you sinned?
Do it no more;
and ask forgiveness for your past sins.
2Flee from sin as from the face of a snake;
for if you go near, it will bite you.
Its teeth are like lion’s teeth,
slaying people’s souls.
3All iniquity is as a two-edged sword.
Its stroke has no healing.
4Terror and violence will waste away riches.
So the house of an arrogant man will be laid waste.
5Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of#21:5 Gr. him. God,
and his judgment comes speedily.
6One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner.
He who fears the Lord will repent in his heart.
7He who is mighty in tongue is known far away;
but the man of understanding knows when he slips.
8He who builds his house with other men’s money
is like one who gathers stones for his own tomb.
9The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow
with a flame of fire at the end of them.
10The way of sinners is paved with stones;
and at the end of it is the pit of Hades.
11He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent.
The fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
12He who is not clever will not be instructed.
There is a cleverness which makes bitterness abound.
13The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood,
and his counsel as a fountain of life.
14The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel.
He will hold no knowledge.
15If a man of knowledge hears a wise word,
he will commend it and add to it.
The wanton man hears it, and it displeases him,
so he throws it away behind his back.
16The chatter of a fool is like a burden in the way,
but grace will be found on the lips of the wise.
17The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation.
They will ponder his words in their heart.
18As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool.
The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense.#21:18 Gr. unexamined words.
19Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man,
and as manacles on the right hand.
20A fool lifts up his voice with laughter,
but a clever man smiles quietly.
21Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold,
and as a bracelet upon his right arm.
22The foot of a fool rushes into a house,
but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23A foolish man peers into the door of a house,
but a man who is instructed will stand outside.
24It is rude for someone to listen at a door,
but a prudent person will be grieved with the disgrace.
25The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things,
but the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance.
26The heart of fools is in their mouth,
but the mouth of wise men is their heart.
27When the ungodly curses an adversary,
he curses his own soul.
28A whisperer defiles his own soul,
and will be hated wherever he travels.
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Sirach 21: WEBUS
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