Sirach 27 — WEBC
27Verse 1Many have sinned for profit.He who seeks to multiply wealth will turn his eye away.Verse 2As a nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones,so sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling.Verse 3Unless a person holds on diligently to the fear of the Lord,his house will be overthrown quickly.Verse 4In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains,so does the filth of man in his thoughts.Verse 5The furnace tests the potter’s vessels;so the test of a person is in his thoughts.Verse 6The fruit of a tree discloses its cultivation,so is the utterance of the thought of a person’s heart.Verse 7Praise no man before you hear his thoughts,for this is how people are tested.Verse 8If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it,
and put it on like a long robe of glory.
Verse 9Birds will return to their own kind,so truth will return to those who practice it.Verse 10The lion lies in wait for prey.So does sin for those who do evil.Verse 11The discourse of a godly man is always wise,but the fool changes like the moon.Verse 12Limit your time among people void of understanding,but persevere among the thoughtful.Verse 13The talk of fools is offensive.Their laughter is wantonly sinful.Verse 14Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright.Their strife makes others plug their ears.Verse 15The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed.Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear.Verse 16He who reveals secrets destroys trust,and will not find a close friend.Verse 17Love a friend, and keep faith with him;but if you reveal his secrets,
you shall not follow him;Verse 18for as a man has destroyed his enemy,so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.Verse 19As a bird which you have released out of your hand,so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.Verse 20Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away,and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare.Verse 21For a wound may be bound up, and after abuse there may be reconciliation;but he who reveals secrets is without hope.Verse 22One who winks the eye contrives evil things;and those who know him will keep their distance.Verse 23When you are present, he will speak sweetly,and will admire your words;
but afterward he will twist his speech
and set a trap in your words.Verse 24I have hated many things, but nothing like him.The Lord will hate him.Verse 25One who casts a stone straight up casts it on his own head.A deceitful blow opens wounds.Verse 26He who digs a pit will fall into it.He who sets a snare will be caught in it.Verse 27He who does evil things, they will roll back upon him,and he will not know where they came from.Verse 28Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant.Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.Verse 29Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare.Anguish will consume them before they die.Verse 30Wrath and anger, these also are abominations.A sinner will possess them.
and put it on like a long robe of glory.
Verse 9Birds will return to their own kind,so truth will return to those who practice it.Verse 10The lion lies in wait for prey.So does sin for those who do evil.Verse 11The discourse of a godly man is always wise,but the fool changes like the moon.Verse 12Limit your time among people void of understanding,but persevere among the thoughtful.Verse 13The talk of fools is offensive.Their laughter is wantonly sinful.Verse 14Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright.Their strife makes others plug their ears.Verse 15The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed.Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear.Verse 16He who reveals secrets destroys trust,and will not find a close friend.Verse 17Love a friend, and keep faith with him;but if you reveal his secrets,
you shall not follow him;Verse 18for as a man has destroyed his enemy,so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.Verse 19As a bird which you have released out of your hand,so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.Verse 20Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away,and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare.Verse 21For a wound may be bound up, and after abuse there may be reconciliation;but he who reveals secrets is without hope.Verse 22One who winks the eye contrives evil things;and those who know him will keep their distance.Verse 23When you are present, he will speak sweetly,and will admire your words;
but afterward he will twist his speech
and set a trap in your words.Verse 24I have hated many things, but nothing like him.The Lord will hate him.Verse 25One who casts a stone straight up casts it on his own head.A deceitful blow opens wounds.Verse 26He who digs a pit will fall into it.He who sets a snare will be caught in it.Verse 27He who does evil things, they will roll back upon him,and he will not know where they came from.Verse 28Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant.Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.Verse 29Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare.Anguish will consume them before they die.Verse 30Wrath and anger, these also are abominations.A sinner will possess them.