Ben Sira - chapter 21

21: 1 - 28 (Translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
My child, if you have sinned, do not do it again, and pray over your former sins.  Flee from sin as from the face of a snake; for if you approach it, it will bite you.  Its teeth are lion's teeth, and destroy the souls of men.  All iniquity is like a two-edged sword; a blow from it cannot be healed.  Terror and violence lay waste riches; so the house of the proud will be laid waste.  The prayer from a poor man's mouth reaches to the ears of God, and His judgment comes speedily.  The one who hates reproof  is walking in the sinner's steps but those who fear the Lord will turn to Him in their heart.  The mighty in speech are known afar off, but the thoughtful know when they slip.   Whoever builds a house with other men's money is like one who gathers stones for winter.  An assembly of wicked is like tow wrapped together; for their end is a blazing fire.  The way of sinners is made smooth with stones, but at the end of it is the pit of Hades.
Whoever keeps the Law controls his thoughts, and wisdom is the consummation of the fear of the Lord.  The one who is not shrewd will not be instructed, but there is a shrewdness that spreads bitterness.  The knowledge of the wise abounds like a flood, and their counsel is like a living spring.  The heart of a fool is like a broken dish; it will hold no knowledge.  If a person of understanding hears a wise saying, he commends it and adds to it; if the self-indulgent hear it and it displeases them, they throw it behind their back.  The discourse of a fool is like a burden on a journey; but enjoyment is found on the lips of a person of understanding.  The utterance of a sensible person will be asked for in an assembly, and what he says they will think over in their minds.  To a fool wisdom is like a ruined house, and the knowledge of a man without understanding is talk that will not bear investigation.  To the foolish, instruction is fetters on their feet; and handcuffs on their right hand.  Fools raise their voice when they laugh but a shrewd man will hardly even smile quietly.  To the sensible person instruction/education is like a gold ornament, and like a bracelet on his right arm.  The foot of a fool is quick to enter a house, but an experienced man waits respectfully before it.  A senseless person peeps into a house through the door, but a cultivated man stands outside.  It is stupidity to eavesdrop at a door; but a person of sensibility would be overwhelmed with disgrace.  The lips of strangers will talk of these things, but the words of the prudent are weighed on the scales.  The minds of fools are in their mouths, but the mouth of the wise is their mind.  When an ungodly person curses an adversary, he curses his own soul.  A whisperer pollutes his own soul, and will be hated in the neighborhood.