Sirach 22:16-18

Good News Translation

¹⁶ A wooden beam can be put into a building so firmly that an earthquake cannot shake it loose; a person can be trained to use reason and good sense so well that he keeps his head when a crisis comes. ¹⁷ A mind that thinks things through intelligently is like a firm wall, finely decorated. ¹⁸ Small stones on top of a wall^[a] will not stay put when the wind blows, and a person whose stupid ideas have made him timid will not be able to stand up to frightening situations.