1262 verses about Learning

Many such things I have seen with my eyes; And my ear has heard mightier things than these.

My son, hearken to me, and learn knowledge, And give heed to my words with your heart.

I will show forth instruction by weight, And declare knowledge exactly.

Counsel, and tongue, and eyes, Ears, and heart, gave he them to understand withal.

He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, And showed them good and evil.

He added to them knowledge, And gave them a law of life for a heritage.

When a man has finished, then he is but at the beginning; And when he ceaseth, then will he be in perplexity.

He has mercy on those who accept chastening, And that diligently seek after his judgements.

Learn before you speak; And have a care of your health or ever you be sick.

Every man of understanding knows wisdom; And he will give thanks to him that found her.

They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, And poured forth apt proverbs.

He that is wise in words will advance himself; And one that is prudent will please great men.

He that is not clever will not be instructed; And there is a cleverness which makes bitterness to abound.

The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood; And his counsel as a fountain of life.

The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel; And he will hold no knowledge.

If a man of knowledge hear a wise word, He will commend it, and add to it: The dissolute man hears it, and it displeases him, And he puts it away behind his back.

As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool; And the knowledge of an unwise man is as talk without sense.

Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man, And as manacles on the right hand.

Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, And as a bracelet upon his right arm.

A foolish man peepeth in from the door of another man’s house; But a man that is instructed will stand without.

It is a lack of instruction in a man to listen at the door; But the prudent man will be grieved with the disgrace.

A father has shame in having begotten an uninstructed son; And a foolish daughter is born to his loss.

Unseasonable discourse is as music in mourning; But stripes and correction are wisdom at every season.

He that teaches a fool is as one that glues a potsherd together; Even as one that wakes a sleeper out of a deep sleep.

A heart settled upon a thoughtful understanding Is as an ornament of plaister on a polished wall.

Who will set scourges over my thought, And a discipline of wisdom over my heart? That they spare me not for my ignorances, And my heart pass not by their sins:

Remember your father and your mother, For you sit in the midst of great men; That you be not forgetful before them, And become a fool by your custom; So will you wish that you had not been born, And curse the day of your nativity.

A man that is accustomed to words of reproach Will not be corrected all the days of his life.

For my memorial is sweeter than honey, And my inheritance than the honeycomb.

It is he that makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, And as Tigris in the days of new fruits;

That makes understanding full as Euphrates, And as Jordan in the days of harvest;

That makes instruction to shine forth as the light, As Gihon in the days of vintage.

The first man knew her not perfectly; And in like manner the last has not traced her out.

I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning, And will make these things to shine forth afar off.

I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, And leave it to generations of ages.

Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, But for all those who diligently seek her.

In your youth you have not gathered, And how should you find in your old age?

How beautiful a thing is judgement for gray hairs, And for elders to know counsel!

Much experience is the crown of old men; And their glorying is the fear of the Lord.

Happy is he that has found prudence; And he that discourseth in the ears of those who listen.

How great is he that has found wisdom! Yet is there none above him that fears the Lord.

A silent woman is a gift of the Lord; And there is nothing so much worth as a well-instructed soul.

He that chastises his son shall have profit of him, And shall glory of him among his acquaintance.

He that teaches his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy; And before friends he shall rejoice of him.

Hear me, my son, and despise me not, And at the last you shall find my words true: In all your works be quick, And no disease shall come to you.

Speak, you that are the elder, for it becomes you, but with sound knowledge; And hinder not music.

He that fears the Lord will receive his discipline; And those who seek him early shall find favor.

Prepare your speech, and so shall you be heard; Bind up instruction, and make your answer.

By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished; And he varied seasons and feasts:

Consider that I laboured not for myself alone, But for all those who seek instruction.

A well-instructed man knows many things; And he that has much experience will declare understanding.

He that has no experience knows few things: But he that has wandered shall increase his skill.

In my wandering I have seen many things; And more than my words is my understanding.

A froward heart will cause heaviness: And a man of experience will recompense him.

There is one that is shrewd and the instructor of many, And yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

A wise man will instruct his own people; And the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.

And he gave men skill, That they might be glorified in his marvelous works.

The wisdom of the scribe comes by opportunity of leisure; And he that has little business shall become wise.

How shall he become wise that holds the plow, That glories in the shaft of the goad, That drives oxen, and is occupied in their labors, And whose discourse is of the stock of bulls?

They shall not be sought for in the council of the people, And in the assembly they shall not mount on high; They shall not sit on the seat of the judge, And they shall not understand the covenant of judgement: Neither shall they declare instruction and judgement; And where parables are they shall not be found.

Not so he that has applied his soul, And meditateth in the law of the Most High; He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, And will be occupied in prophecies.

He will keep the discourse of the men of renown, And will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables.

He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs, And be conversant in the dark sayings of parables.

He will serve among great men, And appear before him that rules: He will travel through the land of strange nations; For he has tried good things and evil among men.

If the great Lord will, He shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: He shall pour forth the words of his wisdom, And in prayer give thanks to the Lord.

He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, And in his secrets shall he meditate.

He shall show forth the instruction which he has been taught, And shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

Many shall commend his understanding; And so long as the world endures, it shall not be blotted out: His memorial shall not depart, And his name shall live from generation to generation.

Yet more will I utter, which I have thought upon; And I am filled as the moon at the full.

Hearken to me, you⌃ holy children, And bud forth as a rose growing by a brook of water:

Wine and music rejoice the heart; And the love of wisdom is above both.

Be not ashamed to instruct the unwise and foolish, And one of extreme old age that contends with those that are young; And so shall you be well instructed indeed, And approved in the sight of every man living.

I will make mention now of the works of the Lord, And will declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.

Leaders of the people by their counsels, And by their understanding men of learning for the people; Wise were their words in their instruction:

He made him to hear his voice, And led him into the thick darkness, And gave him commandments face to face, Even the law of life and knowledge, That he might teach Jacob the covenant, And Israel his judgments.

He gave to him in his commandments, Yes, authority in the covenants of judgements, To teach Jacob the testimonies, And to enlighten Israel in his law.

How wise was you made in your youth, And filled as a river with understanding!

For your songs and proverbs and parables, And for your interpretations, the countries marveled at you.

I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, Who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; And he that lays them up in his heart shall become wise.

When I was yet young, Or ever I went abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

Before the temple I asked for her, And I will seek her out even to the end.

From her flower as from the ripening grape my heart delighted in her: My foot trod in uprightness, From my youth I tracked her out.

I bowed down my ear a little, and received her, And found for myself much instruction.

I profited in her: To him that gives me wisdom I will give glory.

For I purposed to practice her, And I was zealous for that which is good; And I shall never be put to shame.

My soul has wrestled in her, And in my doing I was exact: I spread forth my hands to the heaven above, And bewailed my ignorances of her.

I set my soul aright to her, And in pureness I found her. I got me a heart joined with her from the beginning: Therefore shall I not be forsaken.

My inward part also was troubled to seek her: Therefore I have gotten a good possession.

The Lord gave me a tongue for my reward; And I will praise him therewith.

Draw near to me, you⌃ unlearned, And lodge in the house of instruction.

Say, wherefore are you⌃ lacking in these things, And your souls are very thirsty?

I opened my mouth, and spoke, Get her for yourselves without money.

Put your neck under the yoke, And let your soul receive instruction: She is hard at hand to find.

Behold with your eyes, How that I laboured but a little, And found for myself much rest.

Get you instruction with a great sum of silver, And gain much gold by her.

You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.

Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that you may know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.

Younger men have seen the light, and lived upon the earth: but the way of knowledge have they not known,

neither understood they the paths thereof: neither have their children laid hold of it: they are far off from their way.