Chapter 21

¹My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee. ²Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee. ³The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men. ⁴All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof. ⁵Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride : so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out. ⁶The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily. ⁷He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart. ⁸He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him. ⁹He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter. ¹⁰The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire. ¹¹The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is hell, and darkness, and pains. ¹²He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof. ¹³The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding. ¹⁴He that is not wise in good, will not be taught. ¹⁵But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil : and there is no understanding where there is bitterness. ¹⁶The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life. ¹⁷The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold. ¹⁸A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back. ¹⁹The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the lips of the wise, grace shall be found. ²⁰The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts. ²¹As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool : and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense. ²²Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand. ²³A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself. ²⁴Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm. ²⁵The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty. ²⁶A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that is well taught will stand without. ²⁷It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace. ²⁸The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things but the words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance. ²⁹The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men is in their heart. ³⁰While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul. ³¹The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and wise man shall be honoured.