Sirach 27

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.	1 Because of need, many have sinned. And whoever seeks to be enriched, averts his eye.
2 As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.	2 Like a post fixed in the middle of adjoining stones, so also will sin become wedged between selling and buying.
3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.	3 Sin will be crushed with the one who sins.
4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.	4 If you do not hold yourself steadfastly to the fear of the Lord, your house will be quickly overthrown.
5 The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.	5 Just as the dust remains when one shakes a sieve, so will the doubt of a man remain in his thoughts.
6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.	6 The furnace tests the potter’s vessels, and the trial of the tribulation tests just men.
7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men.	7 As the pruning of a tree reveals its fruit, so does a word reveal the thoughts in the heart of a man.
8 If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.	8 You should not praise a man before he speaks; for such is the testing of men.
9 The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.	9 If you pursue justice, you will obtain it. And you will be clothed with justice, as with a long robe of honor. And you will live with justice. And justice will protect you continually. And on the day of reckoning, you will find a strong foundation.
10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.	10 Birds flock to their own kind. And truth will return to those who practice it.
11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.	11 The lion lies in wait for its prey continually. So also do sins lie in wait for those who work iniquity.
12 If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.	12 A holy man persists in wisdom like the sun. But a senseless man changes like the moon.
13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.	13 In the midst of the senseless, retain a word for the proper time. But be continually in the midst those who are thoughtful.
14 The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.	14 The discussions of sinners are hateful, and their laughter is a delight in sin.
15 The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.	15 The speech that swears many oaths will cause the hair of the head to stand upright; and its irreverence will cause the ears to be blocked.
16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.	16 The shedding of blood is in the quarrels of the arrogant; and their evil talk is grievous to hear.
17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.	17 Whoever discloses the secret of a friend breaks faith; and he will not find a friend for his soul.
18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor.	18 Love your neighbor, and be united with him faithfully.
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 But if you disclose his secrets, you should not continue to follow after him.
20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.	20 For like a man who destroys his friend, so also is he who destroys the friendship of his neighbor.
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 And like someone releasing a bird from his hand, so have you abandoned your neighbor, and you will not obtain him again.
22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him.	22 You should no longer seek him, for he is now far away; he has fled like a roe-deer from a snare. For his soul has been wounded.
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 You will no longer be able to bind his wound. For there may be a reconciliation from cursing.
24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.	24 But to disclose the secrets of a friend is the hopeless act of an unhappy soul.
25 Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.	25 One who winks with the eye fabricates iniquity, and no one will cast him aside.
26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.	26 In the sight of your eyes, he will sweeten his mouth, and he will admire your talk. But at the very end, he will pervert his mouth, and he will offer a scandal from your own words.
27 He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.	27 I have hated many things, but I have not done as he has done, and the Lord will hate him.
28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.	28 Whoever throws a stone straight up will find that it falls on his own head. And a deceitful wound will return to wound the deceitful.
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 And whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever positions a stone against his neighbor will stumble over it. And whoever lays a trap for another will perish by it.
30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.	30 Whoever sets in motion a wicked plan will find that it rolls back over him, and he will not know from which direction it will arrive.
	31 Mockery and derision are of the arrogant, and vengeance will lie in wait for them, like a lion.
	32 Whoever enjoys the fall of the just will perish in a snare, and grief will consume them before they die.
	33 Anger and fury are both abominable, and the sinful man will be held by them.