Sirach 27

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.	1 For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes.
2 As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.	2 Like a peg driven between fitted stones, between buying and selling sin is wedged in.
3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.	3 Unless you earnestly hold fast to the fear of the LORD, suddenly your house will be thrown down.
4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.	4 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's faults when he speaks.
5 The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.	5 As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man.
6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.	6 The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a man's speech disclose the bent of his mind.
7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men.	7 Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested.
8 If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.	8 If you strive after justice you will attain it, and put it on like a splendid robe.
9 The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.	9 Birds nest with their own kind, and fidelity comes to those who live by it.
10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.	10 As a lion crouches in wait for prey, so do sins for evildoers.
11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.	11 Ever wise are the discourses of the devout, but the godless man, like the moon, is inconstant.
12 If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.	12 Limit the time you spend among fools, but frequent the company of thoughtful men.
13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.	13 The conversation of the wicked is offensive, their laughter is wanton guilt.
14 The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.	14 Their oath-filled talk makes the hair stand on end, their brawls make one stop one's ears.
15 The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.	15 Wrangling among the haughty ends in bloodshed, their cursing is painful to hear.
16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.	16 He who betrays a secret cannot be trusted, he will never find an intimate friend.
17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.	17 Cherish your friend, keep faith with him; but if you betray his confidence, follow him not;
18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor.	18 For as an enemy might kill a man, you have killed your neighbor's friendship.
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	19 Like a bird released from the hand, you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him;
20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.	20 Follow him not, for he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the trap.
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.	21 A wound can be bound up, and an insult forgiven, but he who betrays secrets does hopeless damage.
22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him.	22 He who has shifty eyes plots mischief and no one can ward him off;
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.	23 In your presence he uses honeyed talk, and admires your every word, But later he changes his tone and twists your words to your ruin.
24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.	24 There is nothing that I hate so much, and the LORD hates him as well.
25 Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.	25 As a stone falls back on him who throws it up, so a blow struck in treachery injures more than one.
26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.	26 As he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who lays a snare is caught in it,
27 He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.	27 Whoever does harm will be involved in it without knowing how it came upon him.
28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.	28 Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.	29 The trap seizes those who rejoice in pitfalls, and pain will consume them before they die;
30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.	30 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.