Ben Sira 21:1-8

1 My child, have you sinned? Don't do it again, and pray for forgiveness for what you have already done.

2 Avoid sin as if it were a snake. If you get too near, it will sink its teeth into your soul like a lion, and destroy you.

3 Every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword.

4 If a person is insolent and arrogant, he may lose everything he has.

5 When poor people pray, God hears them and quickly answers their prayers. ¹

6 If you refuse to accept correction, you are committing a sin; and if you fear the Lord, you will make a sincere change in your ways.

7 Someone may be famous as a good speaker, but when he is wrong, a sensible person will detect it.

8 Anyone who borrows money to build a house is just collecting stones for his own tomb.

Cross References

• 1. 21.5Ben Sira 35.17-19.

Footnotes

• [a]. his own tomb; [some manuscripts have] the winter.