Sirach 27

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Many have sinned for the sake of profit, one who hopes to be rich must turn a blind eye.	1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
2 A peg wil stick in the joint between two stones, and sin wil wedge itself between sel ing and buying.	2 As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.
3 Whoever does not firmly hold to the fear of the Lord, his house wil soon be overthrown.	3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.
4 In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a person appear in speech.	4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.
5 The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a person is in conversation.	5 The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.
6 The orchard where the tree grows is judged by its fruit, similarly words betray what a person feels.	6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
7 Do not praise anyone who has not yet spoken, since this is where people are tested.	7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men.
8 If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown.	8 If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.
9 Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practise it.	9 The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.
10 The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong.	10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.
11 The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon.	11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.
12 When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time.	12 If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.
13 The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures.	13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.
14 The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop yourears.	14 The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.
15 A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed, and their insults are embarrassing to hear.	15 The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.
16 A betrayer of secrets forfeits al trust and wil never find the kind of friend he wants.	16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.
17 Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after himany more;	17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
18 for, as one destroys a person by kil ing him, so you have kil ed your neighbour's friendship,	18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor.
19 and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go, and wil not catch him.	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
20 Do not go after him -- he is far away, he has fled like a gazel e from the snare.	20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
21 For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope.	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.
22 Someone with a sly wink is plotting mischief, no one can dissuade him from it.	22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him.
23 Honey-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.	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.
24 I have found many things to hate, but nothing as much as him, and the Lord hates him too.	24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.
25 Whoever throws a stone in the air, throws it on to his own head; a treacherous blow cuts both ways.	25 Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.
26 The man who digs a pit falls into it, whoever sets a snare wil be caught by it.	26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
27 On anyone who does evil, evil wil recoil, without his knowing where it comes from.	27 He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.
28 Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of the arrogant, but vengeance lies in wait like a lion for such a one.	28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.
29 The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfal of the devout, and pain wil eat them up beforethey die.	29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.
30 Resentment and anger, these are foul things too, and a sinner is a master at them both.	30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.