Read & explore together
Prudence restrains intrusion and reckless words
Sirach 21:22–28 gives linked wisdom sayings about respecting other people’s space and guarding our speech. Foolish behaviour is shown as intrusive and reckless, while prudence is careful, restrained, and aware of disgrace.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this passage from the Catholic additional books, the sayings move in order from entering a house, to peering and listening at a door, and then to the use of the mouth. Each contrast sets foolish or ungodly behaviour beside experience, instruction, prudence, or wisdom.
Sirach 21:22–28Main takeaway
Prudence in this passage means respecting boundaries and weighing words, because reckless speech harms the speaker as well as others.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Not rushing into another placeSirach begins with the image of approaching a house. The fool rushes in, but the experienced person is ashamed to enter so freely.
Explanation
Sirach begins with the image of approaching a house. The fool rushes in, but the experienced person is ashamed to enter so freely. The contrast shows restraint. Wisdom here is not bold intrusion, but recognising that stepping into another person’s space needs care.
02Peering and listening are disgracefulThe next sayings make the problem clearer. A foolish person peers into the door, while an instructed person stays outside.
Explanation
The next sayings make the problem clearer. A foolish person peers into the door, while an instructed person stays outside. Listening at a door is called rude, and the prudent person is grieved by that disgrace. The text treats invasive curiosity as shameful conduct.
03Prudent words are weighedThe passage then turns from actions to speech. It says the lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but prudent words are weighed in the balance.
Explanation
The passage then turns from actions to speech. It says the lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but prudent words are weighed in the balance. This picture suggests measured speech. Wisdom is shown not only in where someone stands, but in how someone speaks.
04The mouth can damage the speakerThe final sayings sharpen the warning. The fool’s heart is in his mouth, but the wise man’s mouth is his heart.
Explanation
The final sayings sharpen the warning. The fool’s heart is in his mouth, but the wise man’s mouth is his heart. The ungodly person who curses an adversary curses his own soul, and a whisperer defiles his own soul and is hated wherever he travels.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which actions near a house are presented as foolish or rude?
List the actions named in the passage and compare them with the responses of the experienced, instructed, and prudent person.
02What does it mean that prudent words are “weighed in the balance”?
Use the contrast in the verse itself to see that prudent speech is measured rather than careless.
03How do the last three verses show that harmful speech turns back on the speaker?
Notice the repeated phrases about one’s own soul and the result of being hated wherever he travels.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 21:22–28
22The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering.
23A foolish man peers into the door of a house, but a man who is instructed will stand outside.
24It is rude for someone to listen at a door, but a prudent person will be grieved with the disgrace.
25The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance.
26The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart.
27When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul.
28A whisperer defiles his own soul, and will be hated wherever he travels.