Ben Sira 22:18

18 Small stones on top of a wall will not stay put when the wind blows, and a person whose stupid ideas have made him timid will not be able to stand up to frightening situations.

Ben Sira 22:18 In-Context

16 A wooden beam can be put into a building so firmly that an earthquake cannot shake it loose; a person can be trained to use reason and good sense so well that he keeps his head when a crisis comes.

17 A mind that thinks things through intelligently is like a firm wall, finely decorated.

18 Small stones on top of a wall will not stay put when the wind blows, and a person whose stupid ideas have made him timid will not be able to stand up to frightening situations.

19 If you stick something in your eye, tears will flow; and if you hurt a person deeply, you will discover his true feelings.

20 If you throw rocks at birds, you will scare them away; and if you insult a friend, you will break up the friendship.

Footnotes

• [a] Small . . . wall; [some manuscripts have] A fence on top of a hill.