16 The fool will say, “I have no friend, and I have no thanks for my good deeds. Those who eat my bread have an evil tongue.” (WEB) 17 How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn! (WEB) 18 A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will come speedily. (WEB)
Sirach 20:16–18
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 18:5–7
5 Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. 6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Job 9:22–24
22 It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ 23 When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is…
Sirach 6:3–5
3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree. (WEB) 4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies. (WEB) 5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtes… (WEB)
Sirach 23:7–9
7 Listen, my children, to the discipline of the mouth. He who keeps it will not be caught. (WEB) 8 The sinner will be overpowered through his lips. By them, the insulter and the arrogant will stumble. (WEB) 9 Don’t accustom your mouth to an oath, and don’t be accustomed to namin… (WEB)
Book of Enoch 98:8–10
8 From henceforth ye know that all your oppression wherewith ye oppress is written down every day till the day of your judgement. (ENO) 9 Woe to you, ye fools, for through your folly shall ye perish: and ye transgress against the wise, and so good hap shall not be your… (ENO) 10 … (ENO)
Job 12:4–6
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. 5 The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping. 6 The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke G…
Sirach 30:9–11
9 Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will grieve you. (WEB) 10 Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him, and you gnash your teeth in the end. (WEB) 11 Give him no liberty in his youth, and don’t ignore his follies. (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
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