Sirach 21

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 My child, have you sinned? Do so no more, and ask forgiveness for your previous faults.	1 Have you sinned, my son? Do so no more, but pray about your former sins.
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.	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.
3 Al law-breaking is like a two-edged sword, the wounds it inflicts are beyond cure.	3 All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword; there is no healing for its wound.
4 Terror and violence make havoc of riches, similarly, desolation overtakes the houses of the proud.	4 Terror and violence will lay waste riches; thus the house of the proud will be laid waste.
5 A plea from the mouth of the poor goes straight to the ear of God, whose judgement comes withoutdelay.	5 The prayer of a poor man goes from his lips to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily.
6 Whoever resents reproof walks in the sinner's footsteps; whoever fears the Lord is repentant of heart.	6 Whoever hates reproof walks in the steps of the sinner, but he that fears the Lord will repent in his heart.
7 The glib speaker is known far and wide, but the wary detects every slip.	7 He who is mighty in speech is known from afar; but the sensible man, when he slips, is aware of it.
8 To build your house with other people's money is like collecting stones for your own tomb.	8 A man who builds his house with other people's money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.
9 A meeting of the lawless is like a heap of tow: they wil end in a blazing fire.	9 An assembly of the wicked is like tow gathered together, and their end is a flame of fire.
10 The sinner's road is smoothly paved, but it ends at the pit of Sheol.	10 The way of sinners is smoothly paved with stones, but at its end is the pit of Hades.
11 Whoever keeps the Law wil master his instincts; the fear of the Lord is made perfect in wisdom.	11 Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts, and wisdom is the fulfilment of the fear of the Lord.
12 No one who lacks aptitude can be taught, but certain aptitudes give rise to bitterness.	12 He who is not clever cannot be taught, but there is a cleverness which increases bitterness.
13 The sage's knowledge is as rich as the abyss and his advice is like a living spring.	13 The knowledge of a wise man will increase like a flood, and his counsel like a flowing spring.
14 The heart of a fool is like a broken jar, it will not hold any knowledge.	14 The mind of a fool is like a broken jar; it will hold no knowledge.
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.	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.
16 The talk of a fool is like a load on a journey, but it is a pleasure to listen to the intelligent.	16 A fool's narration is like a burden on a journey, but delight will be found in the speech of the intelligent.
17 The utterance of the shrewd wil be eagerly awaited in the assembly, what he says wil be givenserious consideration.	17 The utterance of a sensible man will be sought in the assembly, and they will ponder his words in their minds.
18 The wisdom of a fool is like the wreckage of a house, the knowledge of a dolt is incoherent talk.	18 Like a house that has vanished, so is wisdom to a fool; and the knowledge of the ignorant is unexamined talk.
19 To the senseless fel ow instruction is like fetters on the feet, like manacles on the right hand.	19 To a senseless man education is fetters on his feet, and like manacles on his right hand.
20 A fool laughs at the top of his voice, but the intel igent quietly smiles.	20 A fool raises his voice when he laughs, but a clever man smiles quietly.
21 To the shrewd instruction is like a golden ornament, like a bracelet on the right arm.	21 To a sensible man education is like a golden ornament, and like a bracelet on the right arm.
22 The step of a fool goes straight into a house, but a person of much experience makes a respectfulapproach;	22 The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience stands respectfully before it.
23 the stupid peeps inside through the door, a well-bred person waits outside.	23 A boor peers into the house from the door, but a cultivated man remains outside.
24 Listening at doors is a sign of bad upbringing, the perceptive would be ashamed to do so.	24 It is ill-mannered for a man to listen at a door, and a discreet man is grieved by the disgrace.
25 The lips of gossips repeat the words of others, the words of the wise are careful y weighed.	25 The lips of strangers will speak of these things, but the words of the prudent will be weighed in the balance.
26 The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.	26 The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is in their mind.
27 When the godless curses Satan, he is cursing himself.	27 When an ungodly man curses his adversary, he curses his own soul.
28 The scandal-monger sul ies himself and earns the hatred of the neighbourhood.	28 A whisperer defiles his own soul and is hated in his neighborhood.