Sirach · WEB-C
Sirach
21
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
My son, have you sinned? Do it no more; and ask forgiveness for your past sins. 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. All iniquity is as a two-edged sword. Its stroke has no healing. Terror and violence will waste away riches. So the house of an arrogant man will be laid waste. Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily. One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner. He who fears the Lord will repent in his heart. He who is mighty in tongue is known far away; but the man of understanding knows when he slips. He who builds his house with other men’s money is like one who gathers stones for his own tomb. The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow with a flame of fire at the end of them. The way of sinners is paved with stones; and at the end of it is the pit of Hades. He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent. The fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom. He who is not clever will not be instructed. There is a cleverness which makes bitterness abound. The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood, and his counsel as a fountain of life. The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel. He will hold no knowledge. 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. The chatter of a fool is like a burden in the way, but grace will be found on the lips of the wise. The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation. They will ponder his words in their heart. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool. The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense. Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man, and as manacles on the right hand. A fool lifts up his voice with laughter, but a clever man smiles quietly. Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, and as a bracelet upon his right arm. The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering. A foolish man peers into the door of a house, but a man who is instructed will stand outside. It is rude for someone to listen at a door, but a prudent person will be grieved with the disgrace. The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart. When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul. A whisperer defiles his own soul, and will be hated wherever he travels.
Reflections
No reviewed reflections for this passage yet.
Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)23 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Sirach 21:1
Ver. 1. Thee. The just may offend: but the wicked relapse continually.
↑ 1Sirach 21:2
Ver. 2. Hold. Gr. "bite," (C.) in the same sense. M. --- Serpents sting in secret: so all sins inveigle the soul. W.
↑ 2Sirach 21:3
Ver. 3. Lion. Yet only those are hurt, who consent to sin. The devil may go round about, (1 Pet.
v. 8.) and tempt; (C.) he cannot bit, except a man willingly expose himself, and come near. v. 2.
↑ 3Sirach 21:4
Ver. 4. Remedy. In man. H. --- Only the sovereign physician can cure it. C.
↑ 4Sirach 21:5
Ver. 5. Riches. As they make enemies arise. Gr. subjoins, "so the house of the proud shall be made desolate." H. --- Roboam lost ten tribes by an insolent answer, and the Tarquins were expelled for their pride.
↑ 5Sirach 21:6
Ver. 6. Speedily. God is the protector of the poor. Ps. x. 5.
↑ 6Sirach 21:7
Ver. 7. Sinner. He rejects all medicines. How shall he be cured? C. --- They who fear God, will examine their actions when they are warned. W.
↑ 7Sirach 21:8
Ver. 8. By him. And to avoid his reproaches. Gr. "knoweth when he is ruined."
H. --- He is more reserved, and escapes the dangers of talkativeness.
↑ 8Sirach 21:9
Ver. 9. Winter. This season is unfit for building; so the man who borrows, may be forced to pay again (C.) before it is convenient for him. H. --- Injustice will bring on ruin. Jer. xxiii. 13. Some Gr. copies have, "stones for a heap over his tomb," as Achan and Absalom were treated.
Reputation, or goods ill-acquired, will not continue long. W.
↑ 9Sirach 21:10
Ver. 10. Fire. All their grandeur will end in smoke. H. --- Mal. iv. 1. Matt. xiii. 30.
↑ 10Sirach 21:11
Ver. 11. Stones. It is broad and easy. Matt. vii.
↑ 11Sirach 21:12
Ver. 12. Thereof. Practice makes perfect. A painter may produce a better piece by this means, than one who is more acquainted with theory, (C.) and neglects it. H.
↑ 12Sirach 21:15
Ver. 15. Bitterness. True wisdom promotes the general good.
↑ 15Sirach 21:16
Ver. 16. Of life. Which never fails. Jo. iv. 14. and vii. 38.
↑ 16Sirach 21:20
Ver. 20. Church. Or assembly, Job xxix. 11. 21. C. --- All good people dislike senseless talk, and approve of what is edifying. W.
↑ 20Sirach 21:21
Ver. 21. Fool. All is in confusion, like a heap of ruins.
↑ 21Sirach 21:22
Ver. 22. Hand. He esteems instruction burdensome.
↑ 22Sirach 21:23
Ver. 23. Low. A smiling countenance is commendable, but loud laughter is to be avoided. Clem.
Pæd. ii. 5. --- It causes too great a change, (Plato, Rep. 3.) and is a mark of folly. Eccle. vii. 5. S.
Aug. c. Acad. ii. 2.
↑ 23Sirach 21:25
Ver. 25. House. And meddles with the concerns of others. C. --- Of the mighty, is not in Gr. The wise will not easily receive invitations. H.
↑ 25Sirach 21:26
Ver. 26. Window. Gr. "door" with impudence. C.
↑ 26Sirach 21:29
Ver. 29. Heart. Understanding. H. --- The wise speak with reflection. Prov. xvi.
23.
↑ 29Sirach 21:30
Ver. 30. While the ungodly, &c. He condemneth and curseth himself; inasmuch as by sin he takes part with the devil, and is, as it were, his member and subject. Ch. --- In vain does he lay the blame of his sins on the devil. v. 3. C. ---
He condemns himself by imitating the wicked. Lu.
xix. W.
↑ 30Sirach 21:31
Ver. 31. By all. Gr. "in the neighbourhood." The rest is omitted. H.
↑ 31License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses