Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 21 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins.
1 My son, have you sinned? Do it no more; and ask forgiveness for your past sins.
2 Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men.
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 All iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.
3 All iniquity is as a two-edged sword. Its stroke has no healing.
4 To terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.
4 Terror and violence will waste away riches. So the house of an arrogant man will be laid waste.
5 A prayer out of a poor man’s mouth reacheth to the ears of God, and his judgment cometh speedily.
5 Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily.
6 He that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.
6 One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner. He who fears the Lord will repent in his heart.
7 An eloquent man is known far and near; but a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.
7 He who is mighty in tongue is known far away; but the man of understanding knows when he slips.
8 He that buildeth his house with other men’s money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.
8 He who builds his house with other men’s money is like one who gathers stones for his own tomb.
9 The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.
9 The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow with a flame of fire at the end of them.
10 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end thereof is the pit of hell.
10 The way of sinners is paved with stones; and at the end of it is the pit of Hades.
11 He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
11 He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent. The fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
12 He that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.
12 He who is not clever will not be instructed. There is a cleverness which makes bitterness abound.
13 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.
13 The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood, and his counsel as a fountain of life.
14 The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.
14 The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel. He will hold no knowledge.
15 If a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back.
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 talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace shall be found in the lips of the wise.
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 They enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart.
17 The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation. They will ponder his words in their heart.
18 As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.
18 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool. The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense.
19 Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.
19 Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man, and as manacles on the right hand.
20 A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth scarce smile a little.
20 A fool lifts up his voice with laughter, but a clever man smiles quietly.
21 Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.
21 Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, and as a bracelet upon his right arm.
22 A foolish man’s foot is soon in his [neighbour’s] house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him.
22 The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23 A fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without.
23 A foolish man peers into the door of a house, but a man who is instructed will stand outside.
24 It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.
24 It is rude for someone to listen at a door, but a prudent person will be grieved with the disgrace.
25 The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance.
25 The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but the words of prudent men 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 heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart.
27 When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.
27 When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul.
28 A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.
28 A whisperer defiles his own soul, and will be hated wherever he travels.
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)