The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Ecclesiaticus 21
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 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.
Its stroke has no healing.
4 Terror and violence will waste away
riches. So the house of an arrogant man will
be laid waste.
5 Supplication from a poor man’s mouth
reaches to the ears of† God,
and his judgment comes speedily.
6 One who hates reproof is in the path of
the sinner. He who fears the Lord will repent in
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 builds his house with other men’s
money is like one who gathers stones for his
own tomb.
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 paved with stones;
and at the end of it is the pit of Hades.
11 He who keeps the law becomes master of
its intent. The fulfilment ofthe fear of
the Lord is wisdom.
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 will 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. He will hold no knowledge.
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 chatter of a fool is like a burden in
the way, but grace will be found on the lips of
the wise.
17 The utterance ofthe prudent man will be
sought for in the congregation. They will
ponder his words in their heart.
18 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool.
The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense.‡
19 Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an
unwise man, and as manacles on the right hand.
20 A fool lifts up his voice with laughter,
but a clever man smiles 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 rushes into a house,
but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23 A foolish man peers into the door of a
house, but a man who is instructed will stand
outside.
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 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 wise men is their
heart.
27 When the ungodly curses an adversary,
he curses his own soul.
28 A whisperer defiles his own soul,
and will be hated wherever he travels.