Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 27

¹Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away. ²As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling. ³Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown. ⁴As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk. ⁵The furnace proveth the potter’s vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning. ⁶The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man. ⁷Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men. ⁸If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.

⁹The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her. ¹⁰As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity. ¹¹The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon. ¹²If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding. ¹³The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin. ¹⁴The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears. ¹⁵The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear. ¹⁶Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.

¹⁷Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him. ¹⁸For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor. ¹⁹As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again ²⁰Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare. ²¹As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without hope. ²²He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him. ²³When 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. ²⁴I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.

²⁵Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds. ²⁶Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein. ²⁷He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh. ²⁸Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them. ²⁹They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die. ³⁰Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.