---
title: "Sirach 21 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/sirach/21/
description: "Cautions against sin in general, and some sins in particular. Sirach 21 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Sirach 21

Sirach 21 is chapter 21 of 51 in the Book of Sirach. Here are all 31 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Cautions against sin in general, and some sins in particular.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Sirach 21 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Son, have you sinned? You should not add further sins. Then too, for your former sins, pray so that they may be forgiven you.
2. Flee from sins, as if from the face of a serpent. For if you approach them, they will take hold of you.
3. Their teeth are like the teeth of a lion, bringing death to the souls of men.
4. All iniquity is like a two-edged spear; there is no healing in its wound.
5. Reproach and injury will make resources useless. And a house that is exceedingly wealthy will become powerless through pride. In this way, the resources of the arrogant will be eradicated.
6. Supplications from the mouth of the pauper will reach all the way to the ears of God, and judgment will come to him quickly.
7. Whoever hates correction is walking in the steps of a sinner. But whoever fears God will convert within his heart.
8. He who has power by means of a bold tongue will be known from far away. But an understanding man knows to slip past him.
9. Whoever builds his house, paid for by another, is like one who gathers his building stones in winter.
10. The synagogue of sinners is like stubble piled up; for the end of them both is a burning fire.
11. The way of sinners is paved and level, and at their end is hell and darkness and punishments.
12. Whoever observes justice will obtain an understanding of it.
13. The consummation of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.
14. One who is not wise in goodness will not accept instruction.
15. Now there is a wisdom which abounds in evil. But there is no understanding where there is bitterness.
16. The knowledge of the wise will increase like a flood, and his counsel will continue like a fountain of life.
17. The heart of the foolish is like a broken vessel, for it will not hold any wisdom.
18. A knowledgeable man will praise any wise word he hears, and he will apply it to himself. The self-indulgent man has heard it, and it displeases him, and so he casts it behind his back.
19. The talk of the foolish is like a burden on a journey. But in the lips of the understanding, grace will be found.
20. The mouth of the prudent is sought in the Church, and they will consider his words in their hearts.
21. Like a house which has been demolished, so is wisdom to the foolish. And the knowledge of the unwise is like meaningless words.
22. Doctrine to the senseless is like fetters on the feet, and like chains on the right hand.
23. A foolish man lifts up his voice in laughter. But a wise man will not even laugh quietly to himself.
24. Doctrine is to the prudent like a gold ornament, and like an armband on the right arm.
25. The feet of the foolish step easily into his neighbor’s house. But an experienced man will be apprehensive in the presence of the powerful.
26. A senseless man will gaze through a window into the house. But a man who has been well-taught will stand outside.
27. It is foolish for a man to listen through the door. And a prudent man will be grieved at this disgrace.
28. The lips of the imprudent will describe senseless things. But the words of the prudent will be weighed on a balance.
29. The hearts of the foolish are in their mouths. But the mouths of the wise are with their hearts.
30. Whenever the impious curse the devil, they curse their own soul.
31. Those who whisper accusations defile their own souls, and they will be hated by all. And whoever abides with them will be hateful. The silent and understanding man will be honored.

## Sirach 21 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Fili, peccasti, non adjicias iterum: sed et de pristinis deprecare, ut tibi dimittantur.
2. Quasi a facie colubri fuge peccata: et si accesseris ad illa, suscipient te.
3. Dentes leonis dentes ejus, interficientes animas hominum.
4. Quasi rhomphæa bis acuta omnis iniquitas: plagæ illius non est sanitas.
5. Objurgatio et injuriæ annullabunt substantiam, et domus quæ nimis locuples est annullabitur superbia: sic substantia superbi eradicabitur.
6. Deprecatio pauperis ex ore usque ad aures ejus perveniet, et judicium festinato adveniet illi.
7. Qui odit correptionem vestigium est peccatoris, et qui timet Deum convertetur ad cor suum.
8. Notus a longe potens lingua audaci, et sensatus scit labi se ab ipso.
9. Qui ædificat domum suam impendiis alienis, quasi qui colligit lapides suos in hieme.
10. Stupa collecta synagoga peccantium, et consummatio illorum flamma ignis.
11. Via peccatorum complanata lapidibus: et in fine illorum inferi, et tenebræ, et pœnæ.
12. Qui custodit justitiam, continebit sensum ejus.
13. Consummatio timoris Dei, sapientia et sensus.
14. Non erudietur qui non est sapiens in bono.
15. Est autem sapientia quæ abundat in malo, et non est sensus ubi est amaritudo.
16. Scientia sapientis tamquam inundatio abundabit, et consilium illius sicut fons vitæ permanet.
17. Cor fatui quasi vas confractum, et omnem sapientiam non tenebit.
18. Verbum sapiens quodcumque audierit scius, laudabit, et ad se adjiciet: audivit luxuriosus, et displicebit illi, et projiciet illud post dorsum suum.
19. Narratio fatui quasi sarcina in via: nam in labiis sensati invenietur gratia.
20. Os prudentis quæritur in ecclesia, et verba illius cogitabunt in cordibus suis.
21. Tamquam domus exterminata, sic fatuo sapientia: et scientia insensati inenarrabilia verba.
22. Compedes in pedibus, stulto doctrina: et quasi vincula manuum super manum dextram.
23. Fatuus in risu exaltat vocem suam: vir autem sapiens vix tacite ridebit.
24. Ornamentum aureum prudenti doctrina, et quasi brachiale in brachio dextro.
25. Pes fatui facilis in domum proximi: et homo peritus confundetur a persona potentis.
26. Stultus a fenestra respiciet in domum: vir autem eruditus foris stabit.
27. Stultitia hominis auscultare per ostium: et prudens gravabitur contumelia.
28. Labia imprudentium stulta narrabunt; verba autem prudentium statera ponderabuntur.
29. In ore fatuorum cor illorum, et in corde sapientium os illorum.
30. Dum maledicit impius diabolum, maledicit ipse animam suam.
31. Susurro coinquinabit animam suam, et in omnibus odietur, et qui cum eo manserit odiosus erit: tacitus et sensatus honorabitur.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- cf. CCC ¶ 2477: Offenses Against Truth ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 30: He condemneth and curseth himself: inasmuch as by sin he takes part with the devil, and is, as it were, his member and subject.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).