Scrutatio

Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

Sirach 27


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1Many have sinned for the sake of profit, one who hopes to be rich must turn a blind eye.2A peg wil stick in the joint between two stones, and sin wil wedge itself between sel ing and buying.3Whoever does not firmly hold to the fear of the Lord, his house wil soon be overthrown.4In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a person appear in speech.5The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a person is in conversation.6The orchard where the tree grows is judged by its fruit, similarly words betray what a person feels.7Do not praise anyone who has not yet spoken, since this is where people are tested.8If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown.9Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practise it.10The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong.11The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon.12When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time.13The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures.14The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop yourears.15A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed, and their insults are embarrassing to hear.16A betrayer of secrets forfeits al trust and wil never find the kind of friend he wants.17Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after himany more;18for, as one destroys a person by kil ing him, so you have kil ed your neighbour's friendship,19and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go, and wil not catch him.20Do not go after him -- he is far away, he has fled like a gazel e from the snare.21For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope.22Someone with a sly wink is plotting mischief, no one can dissuade him from it.23Honey-tongued to your face, he is lost in admiration at your words; but behind your back he has otherthings to say, and turns your words into a stumbling-block.24I have found many things to hate, but nothing as much as him, and the Lord hates him too.25Whoever throws a stone in the air, throws it on to his own head; a treacherous blow cuts both ways.26The man who digs a pit falls into it, whoever sets a snare wil be caught by it.27On anyone who does evil, evil wil recoil, without his knowing where it comes from.28Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of the arrogant, but vengeance lies in wait like a lion for such a one.29The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfal of the devout, and pain wil eat them up beforethey die.30Resentment and anger, these are foul things too, and a sinner is a master at them both.