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Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 21

World English Bible British Edition · Berean Standard Bible

My son, have you sinned?
Flee from sin as from the face of a snake;
All iniquity is as a two-edged sword.
Terror and violence will waste away riches.
Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God,
One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner.
He who is mighty in tongue is known far away;
He who builds his house with other men’s money
The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow
The way of sinners is paved with stones;
He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent.
He who is not clever will not be instructed.
The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood,
The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel.
If a man of knowledge hears a wise word,
The chatter of a fool is like a burden in the way,
The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation.
As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool.
Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man,
A fool lifts up his voice with laughter,
Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold,
The foot of a fool rushes into a house,
A foolish man peers into the door of a house,
It is rude for someone to listen at a door,
The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things,
The heart of fools is in their mouth,
When the ungodly curses an adversary,
A whisperer defiles his own soul,