Sirach 21
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1MY sonne, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but pray for the fore sinnes [that they may be forgiuen thee.] 2Flee from sinne, as from a serpent: for if thou comest to nere it, it wil bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lyon, to slaye the soules of men. 3All iniquitie is as a two edged sworde, the woundes whereof can not be healed. 4Strife & iniuries waste riches: so the house of the proude shalbe desolate. 5The prayer of the poore going out of the mouth, cometh vnto the eares of the Lord, and iustice is done him incontinently. 6Who so hateth to be reformed, is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord, conuerteth in heart. 7An eloquent talker is knowen afarre of: but he that is wise, perceiueth when he falleth. 8Who so buyldeth his house with other mens money, is like one that gathereth stones to make his graue. 9The congregacion of the wicked is like towe wrapped together: their end is a flame of fyre to destroye them. 10The waye of sinners is made plaine with stones, but at the end thereof is hel, [darkenes and paines.] 11He that kepeth the Law of the Lord, ruleth his owne affections thereby : and the increase of wisdome is the end of the feare of God. 12He that is not wise, wil not suffer him self to be taught: but there is some wit that increaseth bitternes. 13The knowledge of the wise shal abounde like water that runneth ouer, and his counsel is like a pure fountaine of life. 14The inner partes of a foole are like a broken vessel: he can kepe no knowledge whiles he liueth. 15When a man of vnderstanding heareth a wise worde, he wil commend it, and increase it: but if an ignorant man heare it, he wil disalowe it, and cast it behinde his backe. 16The talking of a foole is like a burden in the way, but there is comelines in the talke of a wise man. 17Thei inquire at the mouthe of the wise man in the congregacion, and they shal ponder his wordes in their heart. 18As is an house that is destroyed, so is wisdome vnto a foole, and the knowlege of the vnwise is as wordes without order. 19Doctrine vnto fooles is as fetters on the fete, and like manicles vpon the right hand. 20A foole lifteth vp his voyce with laughter, but a wise man doeth scarse smile secretly. 21Learning is vnto a wise man a iewel of golde, and like a bracelet vpon his right arme. 22A foolish mans fote is sone in [his neighboures] house: but a man of experience is ashamed to loke in. 23A foole wil pepe in at the dore into the house: but he that is wel nurtered, wil stand without. 24It is the point of a foolish man to hearken at the dore: for he that is wise, wil be grieued with suche dishonour. 25The lippes of talkers wil be telling suche things as perteine not vnto them, but the wordes of suche as haue vnderstanding, are weighed in the balance: 26The heart of fooles is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart. 27When the vngodlie curseth Satan, he curseth his owne soule. 28A backebiter defileh his owne soule, & is hated wheresoeuer he is: [but he that kepeth his tongue, and is discrete, shal come to honour.]
Chapters in Sirach