Sirach 27
1 Many have sinned for a small matter;
and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
2 As a nail sticketh fast between the
joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.
3 Unless a man hold himself diligently
in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.
4 As when one sifteth with a sieve,
the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.
5 The furnace proveth the potter's
vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.
6 The fruit declareth if the tree have
been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
7 Praise no man before thou hearest
him speak; for this is the trial of men.
8 If thou followest righteousness,
thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.
9 The birds will resort unto their
like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.
10 As the lion lieth in wait for the
prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.
11 The discourse of a godly man is
always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.
12 If thou be among the indiscreet,
observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.
13 The discourse of fools is irksome,
and their sport is the wantonness of sin.
14 The talk of him that sweareth much
maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.
15 The strife of the proud is
bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.
16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth
his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.
17 Love thy friend, and be faithful
unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
18 For as a man hath destroyed his
enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour.
19 As one that letteth a bird go out
of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again.
20 Follow after him no more, for he
is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
21 As for a wound, it may be bound
up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth
secrets is without hope. 22 He that
winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from
him. 23 When thou art present, he
will speak sweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe
his mouth, and slander thy sayings.
24 I have hated many things, but
nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.
25 Whoso casteth a stone on high
casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.
26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall
therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
27 He that worketh mischief, it shall
fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.
28 Mockery and reproach are from the
proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for him.
29 They that rejoice at the fall of
the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them
before they die. 30 Malice and wrath,
even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.