Sirach 27 — UBES

27Verse 1Many have sinned for a small matter;
And he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
^{Verse 2}As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones;
So doth sin stick close between buying and selling.
^{Verse 3}Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord,
His house shall soon be overthrown.
^{Verse 4}As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth;
So the filth of man in his talk.
^{Verse 5}The furnace proveth the potter’s vessels;
So the trial of man is in his reasoning.
^{Verse 6}The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed;
So is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.^{Verse 7}Praise no man before thou hearest him speak;
For this is the trial of men.
^{Verse 8}If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her,
And put her on, as a glorious long robe.
^{Verse 9}The birds will resort unto their like;
So will truth return unto them that practice in her.
^{Verse 10}As the lion lieth in wait for the prey;
So sin for them that work iniquity.
^{Verse 11}The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom;
But a fool changeth as the moon.
^{Verse 12}If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time;
But be continually among men of understanding.
^{Verse 13}The discourse of fools is irksome,
And their sport is the wantonness of sin.
^{Verse 14}The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright;
And their brawls make one stop his ears.
^{Verse 15}The strife of the proud is bloodshedding,
And their revilings are grievous to the ear.^{Verse 16}Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit;
And shall never find friend to his mind.
^{Verse 17}Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him:
But if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
^{Verse 18}For as a man hath destroyed his enemy;
So hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor.
^{Verse 19}As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand,
So hast thou let thy neighbor go, and shalt not get him again.
^{Verse 20}Follow after him no more, for he is too far off;
He is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
^{Verse 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.
^{Verse 22}He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil:
And he that knoweth him will depart from him.
^{Verse 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.
^{Verse 24}I have hated many things, but nothing like him;
For the Lord will hate him.^{Verse 25}Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head;
And a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.
^{Verse 26}Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:
And he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
^{Verse 27}He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him,
And he shall not know whence it cometh.
^{Verse 28}Mockery and reproach are from the proud;
But vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for him.
^{Verse 29}They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare;
And anguish shall consume them before they die.
^{Verse 30}Malice and wrath, even these are abominations;
And the sinful man shall have them both.