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Sirach 21, RSV

21:1 Have you sinned, my son? Do so no more, but pray about your former sins.

21:2 Flee from sin as from a snake; for if you approach sin, it will bite you. Its teeth are lion's teeth, and destroy the souls of men.

21:3 All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword; there is no healing for its wound.

21:4 Terror and violence will lay waste riches; thus the house of the proud will be laid waste.

21:5 The prayer of a poor man goes from his lips to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily.

21:6 Whoever hates reproof walks in the steps of the sinner, but he that fears the Lord will repent in his heart.

21:7 He who is mighty in speech is known from afar; but the sensible man, when he slips, is aware of it.

21:8 A man who builds his house with other people's money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.

21:9 An assembly of the wicked is like tow gathered together, and their end is a flame of fire.

21:10 The way of sinners is smoothly paved with stones, but at its end is the pit of Hades.

21:11 Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts, and wisdom is the fulfilment of the fear of the Lord.

21:12 He who is not clever cannot be taught, but there is a cleverness which increases bitterness.

21:13 The knowledge of a wise man will increase like a flood, and his counsel like a flowing spring.

21:14 The mind of a fool is like a broken jar; it will hold no knowledge.

21:15 When a man of understanding hears a wise saying, he will praise it and add to it; when a reveler hears it, he dislikes it and casts it behind his back.

21:16 A fool's narration is like a burden on a journey, but delight will be found in the speech of the intelligent.

21:17 The utterance of a sensible man will be sought in the assembly, and they will ponder his words in their minds.

21:18 Like a house that has vanished, so is wisdom to a fool; and the knowledge of the ignorant is unexamined talk.

21:19 To a senseless man education is fetters on his feet, and like manacles on his right hand.

21:20 A fool raises his voice when he laughs, but a clever man smiles quietly.

21:21 To a sensible man education is like a golden ornament, and like a bracelet on the right arm.

21:22 The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience stands respectfully before it.

21:23 A boor peers into the house from the door, but a cultivated man remains outside.

21:24 It is ill-mannered for a man to listen at a door, and a discreet man is grieved by the disgrace.

21:25 The lips of strangers will speak of these things, but the words of the prudent will be weighed in the balance.

21:26 The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is in their mind.

21:27 When an ungodly man curses his adversary, he curses his own soul.

21:28 A whisperer defiles his own soul and is hated in his neighborhood.

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