Ecclesiasticus, 21

1. My child, have you sinned? Do so no more, and ask forgiveness for your previous faults.

1. There is a reproof which is not timely; and there is a man who keeps silent but is wise.

2. Flee from sin as from a snake, if you approach it, it will bite you; its teeth are lion's teeth, they take human life away.

2. How much better it is to reprove than to stay angry! And the one who confesses his fault will be kept from loss.

3. All law-breaking is like a two-edged sword, the wounds it inflicts are beyond cure.

3.

4. Terror and violence make havoc of riches, similarly, desolation overtakes the houses of the proud.

4. Like a eunuch's desire to violate a maiden is a man who executes judgments by violence.

5. A plea from the mouth of the poor goes straight to the ear of God, whose judgement comes without delay.

5. There is one who by keeping silent is found wise, while another is detested for being too talkative.

6. Whoever resents reproof walks in the sinner's footsteps; whoever fears the Lord is repentant of heart.

6. There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak.

7. The glib speaker is known far and wide, but the wary detects every slip.

7. A wise man will be silent until the right moment, but a braggart and fool goes beyond the right moment.

8. To build your house with other people's money is like collecting stones for your own tomb.

8. Whoever uses too many words will be loathed, and whoever usurps the right to speak will be hated.

9. A meeting of the lawless is like a heap of tow: they will end in a blazing fire.

9. There may be good fortune for a man in adversity, and a windfall may result in a loss.

10. The sinner's road is smoothly paved, but it ends at the pit of Sheol.

10. There is a gift that profits you nothing, and there is a gift that brings a double return.

11. Whoever keeps the Law will master his instincts; the fear of the Lord is made perfect in wisdom.

11. There are losses because of glory, and there are men who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.

12. No one who lacks aptitude can be taught, but certain aptitudes give rise to bitterness.

12. There is a man who buys much for a little, but pays for it seven times over.

13. The sage's knowledge is as rich as the abyss and his advice is like a living spring.

13. The wise man makes himself beloved through his words, but the courtesies of fools are wasted.

14. The heart of a fool is like a broken jar, it will not hold any knowledge.

14. A fool's gift will profit you nothing, for he has many eyes instead of one.

15. If the educated hears a wise saying, he praises it and caps it with another; if a debauchee hears it, he does not like it and tosses it behind his back.

15. He gives little and upbraids much, he opens his mouth like a herald; today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back; such a one is a hateful man.

16. The talk of a fool is like a load on a journey, but it is a pleasure to listen to the intelligent.

16. A fool will say, "I have no friend, and there is no gratitude for my good deeds; those who eat my bread speak unkindly."

17. The utterance of the shrewd will be eagerly awaited in the assembly, what he says will be given serious consideration.

17. How many will ridicule him, and how often!

18. The wisdom of a fool is like the wreckage of a house, the knowledge of a dolt is incoherent talk.

18. A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue; so the downfall of the wicked will occur speedily.

19. To the senseless fellow instruction is like fetters on the feet, like manacles on the right hand.

19. An ungracious man is like a story told at the wrong time, which is continually on the lips of the ignorant.

20. A fool laughs at the top of his voice, but the intelligent quietly smiles.

20. A proverb from a fool's lips will be rejected, for he does not tell it at its proper time.

21. To the shrewd instruction is like a golden ornament, like a bracelet on the right arm.

21. A man may be prevented from sinning by his poverty, so when he rests he feels no remorse.

22. The step of a fool goes straight into a house, but a person of much experience makes a respectful approach;

22. A man may lose his life through shame, or lose it because of his foolish look.

23. the stupid peeps inside through the door, a well-bred person waits outside.

23. A man may for shame make promises to a friend, and needlessly make him an enemy.

24. Listening at doors is a sign of bad upbringing, the perceptive would be ashamed to do so.

24. A lie is an ugly blot on a man; it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.

25. The lips of gossips repeat the words of others, the words of the wise are carefully weighed.

25. A thief is preferable to a habitual liar, but the lot of both is ruin.

26. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.

26. The disposition of a liar brings disgrace, and his shame is ever with him.

27. When the godless curses Satan, he is cursing himself.

27. He who speaks wisely will advance himself, and a sensible man will please great men.

28. The scandal-monger sullies himself and earns the hatred of the neighbourhood.

28. Whoever cultivates the soil will heap up his harvest, and whoever pleases great men will atone for injustice.

29.

29. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise; like a muzzle on the mouth they avert reproofs.

30.

30. Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, what advantage is there in either of them?

31.

31. Better is the man who hides his folly than the man who hides his wisdom.