Sirach 21

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 son, if you have sinned, do so no more, and for your past sins pray to be forgiven.
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 serpent. that will bite you if you go near it; Its teeth are lion's teeth, destroying the souls of men.
3 The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men.	3 Every offense is a two-edged sword; when it cuts, there can be no healing.
4 All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.	4 Violence and arrogance wipe out wealth; so too a proud man's home is destroyed.
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 Prayer from a poor man's lips is heard at once, and justice is quickly granted him.
6 The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.	6 He who hates correction walks the sinner's path, but he who fears the LORD repents in his 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 Widely known is the boastful speaker but the wise man knows his own faults.
8 He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him.	8 He who builds his house with another's money is collecting stones for his funeral mound.
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 band of criminals is like a bundle of tow; they will end in a flaming fire.
10 The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire.	10 The path of sinners is smooth stones that end in the depths of the nether world.
11 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is hell, and darkness, and pains.	11 He who keeps the law controls his impulses; he who is perfect in fear of the LORD has wisdom.
12 He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof.	12 He can never be taught who is not shrewd, but one form of shrewdness is thoroughly bitter.
13 The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.	13 A wise man's knowledge wells up in a flood, and his counsel, like a living spring;
14 He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.	14 A fool's mind is like a broken jar-- no knowledge at all can it hold.
15 But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil : and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.	15 When an intelligent man hears words of wisdom, he approves them and adds to them; The wanton hears them with scorn and casts them 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 A fool's chatter is like a load on a journey, but there is charm to be found upon the lips of the wise.
17 The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.	17 The views of a prudent man are sought in an assembly, and his words are considered with care.
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 Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool; the stupid man knows it only as inscrutable words.
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 Like fetters on the legs is learning to a fool, like a manacle on his 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 raises his voice in laughter, but the prudent man at the most smiles gently.
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 Like a chain of gold is learning to a wise man, like a bracelet on his right arm.
22 Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.	22 The fool steps boldly into a house, while the well-bred man remains outside;
23 A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself.	23 A boor peeps through the doorway of a house, but a cultured man keeps his glance cast down.
24 Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.	24 It is rude for one to listen at a door; a cultured man would be overwhelmed by the disgrace of it.
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 the impious talk of what is not their concern, but the words of the prudent are carefully weighed.
26 A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that is well taught will stand without.	26 Fools' thoughts are in their mouths, wise men's words are in their hearts.
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 a godless man curses his adversary he really curses 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 A slanderer besmirches himself, and is hated by his neighbors.
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.