Sirach 21

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee.	1 My child, have you sinned? Do so no more, and ask forgiveness for your previous faults.
2 Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee.	2 Flee from sin as from a snake, if you approach it, it wil bite you; its teeth are lion's teeth, they takehuman life away.
3 The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men.	3 Al law-breaking is like a two-edged sword, the wounds it inflicts are beyond cure.
4 All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.	4 Terror and violence make havoc of riches, similarly, desolation overtakes the houses of the proud.
5 Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride : so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out.	5 A plea from the mouth of the poor goes straight to the ear of God, whose judgement comes withoutdelay.
6 The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.	6 Whoever resents reproof walks in the sinner's footsteps; whoever fears the Lord is repentant of heart.
7 He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.	7 The glib speaker is known far and wide, but the wary detects every slip.
8 He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him.	8 To build your house with other people's money is like collecting stones for your own tomb.
9 He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.	9 A meeting of the lawless is like a heap of tow: they wil end in a blazing fire.
10 The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire.	10 The sinner's road is smoothly paved, but it ends at the pit of Sheol.
11 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is hell, and darkness, and pains.	11 Whoever keeps the Law wil master his instincts; the fear of the Lord is made perfect in wisdom.
12 He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof.	12 No one who lacks aptitude can be taught, but certain aptitudes give rise to bitterness.
13 The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.	13 The sage's knowledge is as rich as the abyss and his advice is like a living spring.
14 He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.	14 The heart of a fool is like a broken jar, it will not hold any knowledge.
15 But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil : and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.	15 If the educated hears a wise saying, he praises it and caps it with another; if a debauchee hears it, hedoes not like it and tosses it behind his back.
16 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.	16 The talk of a fool is like a load on a journey, but it is a pleasure to listen to the intelligent.
17 The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.	17 The utterance of the shrewd wil be eagerly awaited in the assembly, what he says wil be givenserious consideration.
18 A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back.	18 The wisdom of a fool is like the wreckage of a house, the knowledge of a dolt is incoherent talk.
19 The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the lips of the wise, grace shall be found.	19 To the senseless fel ow instruction is like fetters on the feet, like manacles on the right hand.
20 The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts.	20 A fool laughs at the top of his voice, but the intel igent quietly smiles.
21 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool : and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.	21 To the shrewd instruction is like a golden ornament, like a bracelet on the right arm.
22 Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.	22 The step of a fool goes straight into a house, but a person of much experience makes a respectfulapproach;
23 A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself.	23 the stupid peeps inside through the door, a well-bred person waits outside.
24 Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.	24 Listening at doors is a sign of bad upbringing, the perceptive would be ashamed to do so.
25 The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty.	25 The lips of gossips repeat the words of others, the words of the wise are careful y weighed.
26 A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that is well taught will stand without.	26 The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.
27 It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.	27 When the godless curses Satan, he is cursing himself.
28 The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things but the words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance.	28 The scandal-monger sul ies himself and earns the hatred of the neighbourhood.
29 The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men is in their heart.
30 While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul.
31 The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and wise man shall be honoured.