Sirach 27

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NOVA VULGATA
1 For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes.	1 Propter lucrum multi deliquerunt; et, qui quaerit locupletari, avertet oculum suum.
2 Like a peg driven between fitted stones, between buying and selling sin is wedged in.	2 Sicut in medio compaginis lapidum palus figitur, sic et inter medium venditionis et emptionis constringitur peccatum.
3 Unless you earnestly hold fast to the fear of the LORD, suddenly your house will be thrown down.	3
4 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's faults when he speaks.	4 Si non in timore Domini tenueris te, instanter cito subvertetur domus tua.
5 As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man.	5 Sicut in percussura cribri remanent quisquiliae, sic peripsemata hominis in cogitatu illius.
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.	6 Vasa figuli probat fornax, et homines iustos tentatio tribulationis.
7 Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested.	7 Sicut rusticationem ligni ostendit fructus illius, sic verbum ex cogitatu cordis hominis.
8 If you strive after justice you will attain it, and put it on like a splendid robe.	8 Ante sermonem non laudes virum: haec enim tentatio est hominum.
9 Birds nest with their own kind, and fidelity comes to those who live by it.	9 Si sequaris iustitiam, apprehendes illam et indues quasi poderem honoris et inhabitabis cum ea, et proteget te in sempiternum, et in die agnitionis invenies firmamentum.
10 As a lion crouches in wait for prey, so do sins for evildoers.	10 Volatilia ad sibi similia conveniunt, et veritas ad eos, qui operantur illam, revertetur.
11 Ever wise are the discourses of the devout, but the godless man, like the moon, is inconstant.	11 Leo venationi insidiatur semper, sic peccata operantibus iniquitates.
12 Limit the time you spend among fools, but frequent the company of thoughtful men.	12 Loquela timorati semper in sapientia manet; stultus autem sicut luna mutatur.
13 The conversation of the wicked is offensive, their laughter is wanton guilt.	13 In medio insensatorum serva tempus, in medio autem cogitantium assiduus esto.
14 Their oath-filled talk makes the hair stand on end, their brawls make one stop one's ears.	14 Loquela stultorum odiosa, et risus illorum in deliciis peccati.
15 Wrangling among the haughty ends in bloodshed, their cursing is painful to hear.	15 Loquacitas multum iurantis horripilationem capiti statuet, et rixa illorum obturatio aurium.
16 He who betrays a secret cannot be trusted, he will never find an intimate friend.	16 Effusio sanguinis rixa superborum, et maledictio illorum auditus gravis.
17 Cherish your friend, keep faith with him; but if you betray his confidence, follow him not;	17 Qui denudat arcana, amici fidem perdit et non inveniet amicum ad animum suum:
18 For as an enemy might kill a man, you have killed your neighbor's friendship.	18 dilige amicum et coniungere fide cum illo;
19 Like a bird released from the hand, you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him;	19 quod, si denudaveris absconsa illius, non persequeris post eum.
20 Follow him not, for he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the trap.	20 Sicut enim homo, qui extulit mortuum suum, sic et qui perdit amicitiam proximi sui;
21 A wound can be bound up, and an insult forgiven, but he who betrays secrets does hopeless damage.	21 et sicut qui dimittit avem de manu sua, sic dereliquisti proximum tuum et non eum capies.
22 He who has shifty eyes plots mischief and no one can ward him off;	22 Non illum sequaris, quoniam longe abest; effugit enim quasi caprea de laqueo, quoniam vulnerata est anima eius;
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.	23 ultra eum non poteris colligare. Et maledicti est concordatio,
24 There is nothing that I hate so much, and the LORD hates him as well.	24 denudare autem amici mysteria amputatio spei est.
25 As a stone falls back on him who throws it up, so a blow struck in treachery injures more than one.	25 Annuens oculo fabricat iniqua; qui novit eum, recedet ab illo.
26 As he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who lays a snare is caught in it,	26 In conspectu oculorum tuorum condulcabit os suum et super sermones tuos admirabitur; novissime autem pervertet os suum et in verbis tuis dabit scandalum.
27 Whoever does harm will be involved in it without knowing how it came upon him.	27 Multa odivi et non coaequavi ei, et Dominus odiet illum.
28 Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.	28 Qui in altum mittit lapidem, super caput eius cadet, et plaga dolosa dolosi dividet vulnera.
29 The trap seizes those who rejoice in pitfalls, and pain will consume them before they die;	29 Qui foveam fodit, incidet in eam, et, qui statuit lapidem proximo, offendet in eo, et, qui laqueum alii ponit, capietur in illo.
30 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.	30 Facienti nequissimum consilium, super ipsum devolvetur, et non agnoscet, unde adveniat illi.
	31 Illusio et improperium superbo, et vindicta sicut leo insidiabitur illi.
	32 Laqueo capientur, qui oblectantur casu iustorum, dolor autem consumet illos, antequam moriantur.
	33 Ira et furor utraque exsecrabilia sunt, et vir peccator continens erit illorum.