Fleeing Sin and Folly
Sirach 21
The chapter urges the reader to flee sin as from a serpent and to repent at once rather than persist in iniquity, warning that the way of sinners leads down to the pit. Much of the chapter contrasts the fool with the wise man in speech, learning, and manners, describing the fool's talk as a house destroyed and the wise man's words as an ornament of gold.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
1
BrentonMy son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins.
GreekΤέκνον, ἥμαρτες; μὴ προσθῇς μηκέτι, καὶ περὶ τῶν προτέρων σου δεήθητι.
2
BrentonFlee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men.
GreekὩς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὄφεως, φεῦγε ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας, ἐὰν γὰρ προσέλθῃς, δήξεταί σε· ὀδόντες λέοντος οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτῆς, ἀναιροῦντες ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπεν.
3
BrentonAll iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.
GreekὩς ῥομφαία δίστομος πᾶσα ἀνομία, τῇ πληγῇ αὐτῆς οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις.
4
BrentonTo terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.
GreekΚαταπληγμὸς καὶ ὕβρις ἐρημώσουσι πλοῦτον, οὕτως οἶκος ὑπερηφάνου ἐρημωθήσεται.
5
BrentonA prayer out of a poor man's mouth reacheth to the ears of God, and his judgment cometh speedily.
GreekΔέησις πτωχοῦ ἐκ στόματος ἕως ὠτίων αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ κατὰ σπουδὴν ἔρχεται.
6
BrentonHe that hateth reproof is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.
GreekΜισῶν ἐλεγμὸν, ἐν ἴχνει ἁμαρτωλοῦ, καὶ ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον ἐπιστρέψει ἐν καρδίᾳ.
7
BrentonAn eloquent man is known far and near; but a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.
GreekΓνωστὸς μακρόθεν ὁ δυνατὸς ἐν γλώσσῃ, ὁ δὲ νοήμων οἶδεν ἐν τῷ ὀλισθαίνειν αὐτόν.
8
BrentonHe that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.
GreekὉ οἰκοδομῶν τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν χρήμασιν ἀλλοτρίοις, ὡς ὁ συνάγων αὐτοῦ τοὺς λίθους εἰς χειμῶνα.
9
BrentonThe congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.
GreekΣτυππεῖον συνηγμένον συναγωγὴ ἀνόμων, καὶ ἡ συντέλεια αὐτῶν φλὸξ πυρός.
10
BrentonThe way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end thereof is the pit of hell.
GreekὉδὸς ἁμαρτωλῶν ὡμαλισμένη ἐκ λίθων, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ αὐτῆς βόθρος ᾅδου.
11
BrentonHe that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
GreekὉ φύλασσων νόμον κατακρατεῖ τοῦ ἐννοήματος αὐτοῦ, καὶ συντέλεια τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου σοφία.
12
BrentonHe that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.
GreekΟὐ παιδευθήσεται ὃς οὐκ ἔστι πανοῦργος· ἔστι πανουργία πληθύνουσα πικρίαν.
13
BrentonThe knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.
GreekΓνῶσις σοφοῦ ὡς κατακλυσμὸς πληθυνθήσεται, καὶ ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ ὡς πηγὴ ζωῆς.
14
BrentonThe inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.
GreekἜγκατα μωροῦ ὡς ἀγγεῖον συντετριμμένον, καὶ πᾶσαν γνῶσιν οὐ κρατήσει.
15
BrentonIf a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but when one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back.
GreekΛόγον σοφὸν ἐὰν ἀκούσῃ ἐπιστήμων, αἰνέσει αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν προσθήσει· ἤκουσεν ὁ σπαταλῶν καὶ ἀπήρεσεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν ὀπίσω τοῦ νώτου αὐτοῦ.
16
BrentonThe talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace shall be found in the lips of the wise.
GreekἘξήγησις μωροῦ ὡς ἐν ὁδῷ φορτίον, ἐπὶ δὲ χείλους συνετοῦ εὑρεθήσεται χάρις.
17
BrentonThey enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart.
GreekΣτόμα φρονίμου ζητηθήσεται ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ διανοηθήσεται ἐν καρδίᾳ.
18
BrentonAs a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.
GreekὩς οἶκος ἠφανισμένος οὕτως μωρῷ σοφία· καὶ γνῶσις ἀσυνέτου, ἀδιεξέταστοι λόγοι.
19
BrentonDoctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.
GreekΠέδαι ἐν ποσὶν ἀνόητοις παιδεία, καὶ ὡς χειροπέδαι ἐπὶ χειρὸς δεξιᾶς.
20
BrentonA fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth scarce smile a little.
GreekΜωρὸς ἐν γέλωτι ἀνυψοῖ φωνὴν αὐτοῦ, ἀνὴρ δὲ πανοῦργος μόλις ἡσυχῇ μειδιάσει.
21
BrentonLearning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.
GreekὩς κόσμος χρυσοῦ φρονίμῳ παιδεία, καὶ ὡς χλιδὼν ἐπὶ βραχίονι δεξιῷ.
22
BrentonA foolish man's foot is soon in [his neighbour's] house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him.
GreekΠοὺς μωροῦ ταχὺς εἰς οἰκίαν, ἄνθρωπος δὲ πολύπειρος αἰσχυνθήσεται ἀπὸ προσώπου.
23
BrentonA fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without.
GreekἌφρων ἀπὸ θύρας παρακύπτει εἰς οἰκίαν, ἀνὴρ δὲ πεπαιδευμένος ἔξω στήσεται.
24
BrentonIt is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.
GreekἈπαιδευσία ἀνθρώπου ἀκροᾶσθαι παρὰ θύραν, ὁ δὲ φρόνιμος βαρυνθήσεται ἀτιμίᾳ.
25
BrentonThe lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance.
GreekΧείλη ἀλλοτρίων ἐν τούτοις βαρυνθήσεται, λόγοι δὲ φρονίμων ἐν ζυγῷ σταθήσονται.
26
BrentonThe heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.
GreekἘν στόματι μωρῶν ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν, καρδία δὲ σοφῶν στόμα αὐτῶν.
27
BrentonWhen the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.
GreekἘν τῷ καταρᾶσθαι ἀσεβῆ τὸν Σατανᾶν, αὐτὸς καταρᾶται τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν.
28
BrentonA whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.
GreekΜολύνει τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ὁ ψιθυρίζων, καὶ ἐν παροικήσει μισηθήσεται.