1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Sirach 21:1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee.

Thee. The just may offend: but the wicked relapse continually.
Sirach 21:2 Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee.

Hold. Greek, "bite," (Calmet) in the same sense. (Menochius) --- Serpents sting in secret: so all sins inveigle the soul. (Worthington)
Sirach 21:3 The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men.

Lion. Yet only those are hurt, who consent to sin. The devil may go round about, (1 Peter 5:8.) and tempt; (Calmet) he cannot bite, except a man willingly expose himself, and come near, ver. 2.
Sirach 21:4 All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.

Remedy. In man. (Haydock) --- Only the sovereign physician can cure it. (Calmet)
Sirach 21:5 Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out.

Riches. As they make enemies arise. Greek subjoins, "so the house of the proud shall be made desolate." (Haydock) --- Roboam lost ten tribes by an insolent answer, and the Tarquins were expelled for their pride.
Sirach 21:6 The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.

Speedily. God is the protector of the poor, Psalm 10:5.
Sirach 21:7 He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.

Sinner. He rejects all medicines. How shall he be cured? (Calmet) --- They who fear God, will examine their actions when they are warned. (Worthington)
Sirach 21:8 He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him.

By him. And to avoid his reproaches. Greek, "knoweth when he is ruined." (Haydock) --- He is more reserved, and escapes the dangers of talkativeness.
Sirach 21:9 He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.

Winter. This season is unfit for building; so the man who borrows, may be forced to pay again (Calmet) before it is convenient for him. (Haydock) --- Injustice will bring on ruin, Jeremias 23:13. Some Greek copies have, "stones for a heap over his tomb," as Achan and Absalom were treated. Reputation, or goods ill-acquired, will not continue long. (Worthington)
Sirach 21:10 *The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire.

Ecclesiasticus 16:7. 		Fire. All their grandeur will end in smoke. (Haydock) --- Malachias 4:1., and Matthew 13:30.
Sirach 21:11 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is hell, and darkness, and pains.

Stones. It is broad and easy, Matthew vii.
Sirach 21:12 He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof.

Thereof. Practice makes perfect. A painter may produce a better piece by this means, than one who is more acquainted with theory, (Calmet) and neglects it. (Haydock)
Sirach 21:13 The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.
Sirach 21:14 He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.
Sirach 21:15 But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.

Bitterness. True wisdom promotes the general good.
Sirach 21:16 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.

Of life. Which never fails, John 4:14., and 7:38.
Sirach 21:17 The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.
Sirach 21:18 A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back.
Sirach 21:19 The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the lips of the wise grace shall be found.
Sirach 21:20 The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts.

Church. Or assembly, Job 29:11, 21. (Calmet) --- All good people dislike senseless talk, and approve of what is edifying. (Worthington)
Sirach 21:21 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.

Fool. All is in confusion, like a heap of ruins.
Sirach 21:22 Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.

Hand. He esteems instruction burdensome.
Sirach 21:23 A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself.

Low. A smiling countenance is commendable, but loud laughter is to be avoided. (Clement, Paed. 2:5.) --- It causes too great a change, (Plato, Rep. 3.) and is a mark of folly, Ecclesiastes 7:5. (St. Augustine, contra Acad. 2:2.)
Sirach 21:24 Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.
Sirach 21:25 The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty.

House. And meddles with the concerns of others. (Calmet) --- Of the mighty, is not in Greek. The wise will not easily receive invitations. (Haydock)
Sirach 21:26 A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that is well taught, will stand without.

Window. Greek, "door" with impudence. (Calmet)
Sirach 21:27 It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.
Sirach 21:28 The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things: but the words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance.
Sirach 21:29 The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men is in their heart.

Heart. Understanding. (Haydock) --- The wise speak with reflection, Proverbs 16:23.
Sirach 21:30 While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul.

While the ungodly, etc. He condemneth and curseth himself; inasmuch as by sin he takes part with the devil, and is, as it were, his member and subject. (Challoner) --- In vain does he lay the blame of his sins on the devil, ver. 3. (Calmet) --- He condemns himself by imitating the wicked, Luke xix. (Worthington)
Sirach 21:31 The tale-bearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and wise man shall be honoured.

By all. Greek, "in the neighbourhood." The rest is omitted. (Haydock)