Sirach 27

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes.	1 Many have committed sin for a trifle, and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes.
2 Like a peg driven between fitted stones, between buying and selling sin is wedged in.	2 As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3 Unless you earnestly hold fast to the fear of the LORD, suddenly your house will be thrown down.	3 If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.
4 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's faults when he speaks.	4 When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man's filth remains in his thoughts.
5 As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man.	5 The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a man is in his reasoning.
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 The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind.
7 Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested.	7 Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men.
8 If you strive after justice you will attain it, and put it on like a splendid robe.	8 If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it as a glorious robe.
9 Birds nest with their own kind, and fidelity comes to those who live by it.	9 Birds flock with their kind; so truth returns to those who practice it.
10 As a lion crouches in wait for prey, so do sins for evildoers.	10 A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for the workers of iniquity.
11 Ever wise are the discourses of the devout, but the godless man, like the moon, is inconstant.	11 The talk of the godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12 Limit the time you spend among fools, but frequent the company of thoughtful men.	12 Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.
13 The conversation of the wicked is offensive, their laughter is wanton guilt.	13 The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14 Their oath-filled talk makes the hair stand on end, their brawls make one stop one's ears.	14 The talk of men given to swearing makes one's hair stand on end, and their quarrels make a man stop his ears.
15 Wrangling among the haughty ends in bloodshed, their cursing is painful to hear.	15 The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, and their abuse is grievous to hear.
16 He who betrays a secret cannot be trusted, he will never find an intimate friend.	16 Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and he will never find a congenial friend.
17 Cherish your friend, keep faith with him; but if you betray his confidence, follow him not;	17 Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him.
18 For as an enemy might kill a man, you have killed your neighbor's friendship.	18 For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19 Like a bird released from the hand, you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him;	19 And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.
20 Follow him not, for he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the trap.	20 Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21 A wound can be bound up, and an insult forgiven, but he who betrays secrets does hopeless damage.	21 For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
22 He who has shifty eyes plots mischief and no one can ward him off;	22 Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds, and no one can keep him from them.
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 In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will give offense.
24 There is nothing that I hate so much, and the LORD hates him as well.	24 I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him; even the Lord will hate him.
25 As a stone falls back on him who throws it up, so a blow struck in treachery injures more than one.	25 Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head; and a treacherous blow opens up wounds.
26 As he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who lays a snare is caught in it,	26 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who sets a snare will be caught in it.
27 Whoever does harm will be involved in it without knowing how it came upon him.	27 If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.
28 Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.	28 Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man, but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion.
29 The trap seizes those who rejoice in pitfalls, and pain will consume them before they die;	29 Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death.
30 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.	30 Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them.