Sirach 21
aligned by seat — same row, same verse, whatever each bible numbers it
| v | Wycliffe |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sone, thou hast do synne? adde thou not eft; but biseche thou for the formere synnes, that tho be foryouun to thee. |
| 2 | As fro the face of a serpent fle thou synnes; and if thou neiyest to `tho synnes, tho schulen take thee. |
| 3 | The teeth of a lioun ben the teeth therof, that sleen the soulis of men. |
| 4 | Al wickidnesse is as a scharp swerd on either syde; heelthe is not to the wounde therof. |
| 5 | Chidyngis and wrongis schulen distrie catel; and an houe that is ouer riche, schal be distriede bi pride; so the catel of a proude man schal be drawun vp bi the roote. |
| 6 | The preyer of a pore man schal come fro the mouth `til to eeris; and doom schal come to hym hastili. |
| 7 | He that hatith repreuyng, is a step of the synnere; and he that dredith God, schal be turned to his herte. |
| 8 | A miyti man with an hardi tunge is knowun afer; and a witti man kan kepe him silf fro that man. |
| 9 | He that bildith his hous with othere mennus costis, is as he that gaderith hise stonys in wyntir. |
| 10 | Scheuys gaderid togidere is the synagoge of synneris; and the endyng of hem is the flawme of fier. |
| 11 | The weie of synneris is set togidere with stoonys; and in the ende of hem ben hellis, and derknessis, and peynes. |
| 12 | He that kepith riytfulnesse, schal holde the wit therof. |
| 13 | The perfeccioun of Goddis drede is wisdom and wit. |
| 14 | He schal not be tauyt, which is not wijs in good. |
| 15 | Forsothe vnwisdom is, which is plenteuouse in yuel; and wit is not, where is bittirnesse. |
| 16 | The kunnyng of a wijs man schal be plenteuouse as flowyng; and the councel of hym dwellith as a welle of lijf. |
| 17 | The herte of a fool is as a brokun vessel; and it schal not holde ony wisdom. |
| 18 | What euer wijs word a kunnynge man herith, he schal preise, and leie to. A letcherouse man herde, and it schal displese hym; and he schal caste it awei bihynde his bak. |
| 19 | The tellynge of a fool is as a birthun in the weie; for whi grace schal be foundun in the lippis of a wijs man. |
| 20 | The mouth of a prudent man is souyt in the chirche; and men schulen thenke hise wordis in her hertis. |
| 21 | As an hous distried, so is wisdom to a fool; and the kunnyng of an vnwijs man is wordis that moun not be teld out. |
| 22 | Stockis in the feet is techyng to a fool; and as bondis of hondis on the riyt hond. |
| 23 | A fool enhaunsith his vois in leiyyng; but a wijs man schal leiye vnnethis stilli. |
| 24 | Techyng is a goldun ournement to a prudent man; and as an ournement of the arm in the riyt arm. |
| 25 | The foot of a fool is liyt in to the hous of a neiybore; and a wijs man schal be aschamed of the persoone of a miyti man. |
| 26 | A fool biholdith fro the wyndow in to the hous; but a lerned man schal stonde with out forth. |
| 27 | It is foli of a man to herkene bi the dore; and a prudent man schal be greuyd bi dispisyng. |
| 28 | The lippis of `vnprudent men schulen telle fonned thingis; but the wordis of prudent men schulen be weied in a balaunce. |
| 29 | The herte of foolis is in her mouth; and the mouth of wise men is in her herte. |
| 30 | Whanne a wickid man cursith the deuel, he cursith his owne soule. |
| 31 | A priuy bacbitere schal defoule his soule, and in alle thingis he schal be hatid, and he that dwellith, schal be hatid; a stil man and wijs schal be onourid. |