Sirach · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sirach 21 Catholic Public Domain Version
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 Son, have you sinned? You should not add further sins. Then too, for your former sins, pray so that they may be forgiven you.
1 My son, have you sinned? Do it no more; and ask forgiveness for your past sins.
2 Flee from sins, as if from the face of a serpent. For if you approach them, they will take hold of you.
2 Flee from sin as from the face of a snake; for if you go near, it will bite you. Its teeth are like lion’s teeth, slaying people’s souls.
3 Their teeth are like the teeth of a lion, bringing death to the souls of men.
3 All iniquity is as a two-edged sword. Its stroke has no healing.
4 All iniquity is like a two-edged spear; there is no healing in its wound.
4 Terror and violence will waste away riches. So the house of an arrogant man will be laid waste.
5 Reproach and injury will make resources useless. And a house that is exceedingly wealthy will become powerless through pride. In this way, the resources of the arrogant will be eradicated.
5 Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily.
6 Supplications from the mouth of the pauper will reach all the way to the ears of God, and judgment will come to him quickly.
6 One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner. He who fears the Lord will repent in his heart.
7 Whoever hates correction is walking in the steps of a sinner. But whoever fears God will convert within his heart.
7 He who is mighty in tongue is known far away; but the man of understanding knows when he slips.
8 He who has power by means of a bold tongue will be known from far away. But an understanding man knows to slip past him.
8 He who builds his house with other men’s money is like one who gathers stones for his own tomb.
9 Whoever builds his house, paid for by another, is like one who gathers his building stones in winter.
9 The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow with a flame of fire at the end of them.
10 The synagogue of sinners is like stubble piled up; for the end of them both is a burning fire.
10 The way of sinners is paved with stones; and at the end of it is the pit of Hades.
11 The way of sinners is paved and level, and at their end is hell and darkness and punishments.
11 He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent. The fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
12 Whoever observes justice will obtain an understanding of it.
12 He who is not clever will not be instructed. There is a cleverness which makes bitterness abound.
13 The consummation of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.
13 The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood, and his counsel as a fountain of life.
14 One who is not wise in goodness will not accept instruction.
14 The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel. He will hold no knowledge.
15 Now there is a wisdom which abounds in evil. But there is no understanding where there is bitterness.
15 If a man of knowledge hears a wise word, he will commend it and add to it. The wanton man hears it, and it displeases him, so he throws it away behind his back.
16 The knowledge of the wise will increase like a flood, and his counsel will continue like a fountain of life.
16 The chatter of a fool is like a burden in the way, but grace will be found on the lips of the wise.
17 The heart of the foolish is like a broken vessel, for it will not hold any wisdom.
17 The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation. They will ponder his words in their heart.
18 A knowledgeable man will praise any wise word he hears, and he will apply it to himself. The self-indulgent man has heard it, and it displeases him, and so he casts it behind his back.
18 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool. The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense.
19 The talk of the foolish is like a burden on a journey. But in the lips of the understanding, grace will be found.
19 Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man, and as manacles on the right hand.
20 The mouth of the prudent is sought in the Church, and they will consider his words in their hearts.
20 A fool lifts up his voice with laughter, but a clever man smiles quietly.
21 Like a house which has been demolished, so is wisdom to the foolish. And the knowledge of the unwise is like meaningless words.
21 Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, and as a bracelet upon his right arm.
22 Doctrine to the senseless is like fetters on the feet, and like chains on the right hand.
22 The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23 A foolish man lifts up his voice in laughter. But a wise man will not even laugh quietly to himself.
23 A foolish man peers into the door of a house, but a man who is instructed will stand outside.
24 Doctrine is to the prudent like a gold ornament, and like an armband on the right arm.
24 It is rude for someone to listen at a door, but a prudent person will be grieved with the disgrace.
25 The feet of the foolish step easily into his neighbor’s house. But an experienced man will be apprehensive in the presence of the powerful.
25 The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance.
26 A senseless man will gaze through a window into the house. But a man who has been well-taught will stand outside.
26 The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart.
27 It is foolish for a man to listen through the door. And a prudent man will be grieved at this disgrace.
27 When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul.
28 The lips of the imprudent will describe senseless things. But the words of the prudent will be weighed on a balance.
28 A whisperer defiles his own soul, and will be hated wherever he travels.
29 The hearts of the foolish are in their mouths. But the mouths of the wise are with their hearts.
29 Not in this translation
30 Whenever the impious curse the devil, they curse their own soul.
30 Not in this translation
31 Those who whisper accusations defile their own souls, and they will be hated by all. And whoever abides with them will be hateful. The silent and understanding man will be honored.
31 Not in this translation
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… shalt neglect to cure what is past, as it is written, "Son, thou hast sinned, do so no more." And that he might not think to be secure by this only, he saith, "And for thy former sins pray that they may be forgiven thee." But what will it profit thee to pray for forgiveness, if thou shalt not make …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)