Sirach 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 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. 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.