Sirach 21 — WBMS
21Verse 1Son, thou hast done sin? [or Son, hast thou sinned?] add thou not again; but beseech thou for the former sins, that those [or they] be forgiven to thee.Verse 2As from the face of a serpent flee thou sins; and if thou nighest to them, those [or they] shall take thee. The teeth of a lion be as the teeth thereof, that slay the souls of men.Verse 3All wickedness is as a sharp sword on either side; health is not to the wound thereof.Verse 4Chidings and wrongs shall destroy chattel [or substance]; and an house that is over-rich, shall be destroyed by pride; so the chattel [or the substance] of a proud man shall be drawn up by the root.Verse 5The prayer of a poor man shall come from the mouth unto the ears of God; and doom shall come to him hastily.Verse 6He that hateth reproving [or chastising], is in a step of the sinner; and he that dreadeth God, shall be turned [or converted] to his heart.Verse 7A mighty man with an hardy tongue is known afar; and a witting man knoweth how to keep himself [or to slide] from that man.Verse 8He that buildeth his house with other men’s costs, is as he that gathereth his stones in winter.Verse 9Sheaves, or stubble [or flax tops], gathered together is the synagogue of sinners; and the ending of them is the flame of fire.Verse 10The way of sinners is set alto-gether [or planted] with stones; and in the end of them be hells+[or hell], and darknesses, and pains.Verse 11He that keepeth rightfulness, shall hold the wit thereof. The perfection of God’s dread is wisdom and wit.Verse 12He shall not be taught, which is not wise in good. Forsooth unwisdom is, which is plenteous [or aboundeth] in evil; and wit is not [or there is not wit], where is bitterness.Verse 13The knowing of a wise man shall be plenteous [or abound] as flowing water; and the counsel of him dwelleth as a well of life.Verse 14The heart of a fool is as a broken vessel; and it shall not hold any wisdom.Verse 15Whatever wise word a knowing man heareth, he shall praise it, and lay to. A lecherous man heard, and it shall displease him; and he shall cast [or throw] it away behind his back.Verse 16The telling of a fool is as a burden in the way; for why grace shall be found in the lips of a wise man.Verse 17The mouth of a prudent man is sought in the church; and men shall think his words in their hearts.Verse 18As an house destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool; and the knowing of an unwise man is words that may not be told out [or untellable].Verse 19Stocks in the feet is teaching [or doctrine] to a fool; and as bonds of hands on the right hand.Verse 20A fool enhanceth his voice in laughing; but a wise man shall laugh scarcely still.Verse 21Teaching is a golden ornament to a prudent man; and as an ornament of the arm [or an arm-circle] in the right arm.Verse 22The foot of a fool is light into the house of a neighbour; and a wise man shall be ashamed of the person of a mighty man.Verse 23A fool beholdeth from the win-dow into the house; but a learned man shall stand withoutforth.Verse 24It is folly of a man to hearken by the door; and a prudent man shall be grieved by despising [or with strife].Verse 25The lips of unprudent men shall tell fond things [or follies]; but the words of prudent men shall be weighed in a balance.Verse 26The heart of fools is in their mouth; and the mouth of wise men is in their heart.Verse 27When a wicked man curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul.Verse 28A privy backbiter shall defoul his soul, and in all things he shall be hated, and he that dwelleth, shall be hated; a still man and wise shall be honoured.