Chapters
Ecclesiasticus (51 chapters)
Ecclesiasticus 21
1
My son, hast thou sinned? add no more thereto; And make supplication for thy former sins.
2
Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent; For if thou draw nigh it will bite thee: The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, Slaying the souls of men.
3
All iniquity is as a two-edged sword; Its stroke hath no healing.
4
Terror and violence will lay waste riches; So the house of a haughty man shall be laid waste.
5
Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reacheth to the ears of God, And his judgement cometh speedily.
1
Notes
+
Gr. him.
6
One that hateth reproof is in the path of the sinner; And he that feareth the Lord will turn again in his heart.
7
He that is mighty in tongue is known afar off: But the man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.
8
He that buildeth his house with other men’s money Is like one that gathereth himself stones against winter.
9
The congregation of wicked men is as tow wrapped together; And the end of them is a flame of fire.
10
The way of sinners is made smooth with stones; And at the last end thereof is the pit of Hades.
11
He that keepeth the law becometh master of the intent thereof; And the end of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
12
He that is not clever will not be instructed; And there is a cleverness which maketh bitterness to abound.
13
The knowledge of a wise man shall be made to abound as a flood; And his counsel as a fountain of life.
14
The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel; And he will hold no knowledge.
15
If a man of knowledge hear a wise word, He will commend it, and add unto it: The dissolute man heareth it, and it displeaseth him, And he putteth it away behind his back.
16
The discourse of a fool is like a burden in the way; But grace shall be found on the lips of the wise.
17
The mouth of the prudent man shall be sought for in the congregation; And they will ponder his words in their heart.
18
As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool; And the knowledge of an unwise man is as talk without sense.
1
Notes
+
Gr. unexamined words.
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 clever man will scarce smile quietly.
21
Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, And as a bracelet upon his right arm.
22
The foot of a fool is soon in another man’s house; But a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23
A foolish man peepeth in from the door of another man’s house; But a man that is instructed will stand without.
24
It is a want of instruction in a man to listen at the door; But the prudent man will be grieved with the disgrace.
25
The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things; But the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance.
1
Notes
+
The text seems to be uncertain.
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.
28
A whisperer defileth his own soul, And shall be hated wheresoever he sojourneth.