What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 21 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Forgiveness prayer accompanies serpent, lion-teeth and sword images. Wisdom and folly comparisons include speech, learning and neighborly conduct. The devil-curse note remains separate and the tale-bearer defiles his own soul as the chapter closes.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 21 tells the son who sinned to cease and pray for earlier forgiveness. Flee sins like a serpent lest they seize; their teeth are lion-teeth killing souls, iniquity a two-edged sword without remedy for its wound. The imagery adds neither venom nor a natural-versus-spiritual treatment distinction. Wrongs waste riches, pride brings wealthy houses to nothing, and poor prayer reaches God for speedy judgment. Reproof-haters trace sinners; God-fear turns to one's heart. Bold tongues are known afar but wisdom slips by. Building at others' charges resembles gathering winter stones; sinful assemblies resemble tow ending in fire and sinners' paved road ends in hell, darkness and pains.

Justice-keeping yields understanding, complete God-fear wisdom. One unwise in good cannot be taught; wisdom may abound in evil and bitterness excludes understanding. Wise knowledge floods and counsel is life's fountain; a fool's broken vessel holds no wisdom. Sense praises and applies wise words, luxury dislikes and rejects them. Fool-talk burdens, wise lips have grace; prudent mouths are sought in church and words considered. Wisdom is a ruined house to fools, unwise knowledge senseless; doctrine fetters feet and manacles the right hand, while prudent learning ornaments gold and bracelet. Fool-laughter is loud, wise laughter barely low.

A fool enters neighbor houses quickly, experienced people are abashed before the mighty; fools peep through windows, taught people stand outside, door-listening disgraces wisdom. Unwise speech is foolish and wise words weighed; foolish hearts are in mouths, wise mouths in hearts. The ungodly cursing the devil curses self. A separate edition note explains participation through sin as the devil's member and subject. A tale-bearer defiles himself, and is hated along with his companions, whereas silent wisdom is honored. The text does not narrate lavish extortion-funded estates, medical venom or immediate resolution of every poor person's complaint.

The story inside

Opening: Forgiveness prayer accompanies serpent, lion-teeth and sword images. Development: Wisdom and folly comparisons include speech, learning and neighborly conduct. Conclusion: The devil-curse note remains separate and the tale-bearer defiles his own soul as the chapter closes.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Forgiveness prayer accompanies serpent, lion-teeth and sword images.
2
Wisdom and folly comparisons include speech, learning and neighborly conduct.
3
The devil-curse note remains separate and the tale-bearer defiles his own soul as the chapter closes.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 75249–75256
21:2. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee. 21:3. The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men. 21:4. All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.
Lines 75289–75293
21:16. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life. 21:17. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.
Lines 75332–75336
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.