Ecclesiasticus 27

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Propter lucrum multi deliquerunt; et, qui quaerit locupletari, avertet oculum suum.	1 Many have sinned for the sake of profit, one who hopes to be rich must turn a blind eye.
2 Sicut in medio compaginis lapidum palus figitur, sic et inter medium venditionis et emptionis constringitur peccatum.	2 A peg wil stick in the joint between two stones, and sin wil wedge itself between sel ing and buying.
3	3 Whoever does not firmly hold to the fear of the Lord, his house wil soon be overthrown.
4 Si non in timore Domini tenueris te, instanter cito subvertetur domus tua.	4 In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a person appear in speech.
5 Sicut in percussura cribri remanent quisquiliae, sic peripsemata hominis in cogitatu illius.	5 The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a person is in conversation.
6 Vasa figuli probat fornax, et homines iustos tentatio tribulationis.	6 The orchard where the tree grows is judged by its fruit, similarly words betray what a person feels.
7 Sicut rusticationem ligni ostendit fructus illius, sic verbum ex cogitatu cordis hominis.	7 Do not praise anyone who has not yet spoken, since this is where people are tested.
8 Ante sermonem non laudes virum: haec enim tentatio est hominum.	8 If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown.
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.	9 Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practise it.
10 Volatilia ad sibi similia conveniunt, et veritas ad eos, qui operantur illam, revertetur.	10 The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong.
11 Leo venationi insidiatur semper, sic peccata operantibus iniquitates.	11 The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon.
12 Loquela timorati semper in sapientia manet; stultus autem sicut luna mutatur.	12 When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time.
13 In medio insensatorum serva tempus, in medio autem cogitantium assiduus esto.	13 The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures.
14 Loquela stultorum odiosa, et risus illorum in deliciis peccati.	14 The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop yourears.
15 Loquacitas multum iurantis horripilationem capiti statuet, et rixa illorum obturatio aurium.	15 A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed, and their insults are embarrassing to hear.
16 Effusio sanguinis rixa superborum, et maledictio illorum auditus gravis.	16 A betrayer of secrets forfeits al trust and wil never find the kind of friend he wants.
17 Qui denudat arcana, amici fidem perdit et non inveniet amicum ad animum suum:	17 Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after himany more;
18 dilige amicum et coniungere fide cum illo;	18 for, as one destroys a person by kil ing him, so you have kil ed your neighbour's friendship,
19 quod, si denudaveris absconsa illius, non persequeris post eum.	19 and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go, and wil not catch him.
20 Sicut enim homo, qui extulit mortuum suum, sic et qui perdit amicitiam proximi sui;	20 Do not go after him -- he is far away, he has fled like a gazel e from the snare.
21 et sicut qui dimittit avem de manu sua, sic dereliquisti proximum tuum et non eum capies.	21 For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope.
22 Non illum sequaris, quoniam longe abest; effugit enim quasi caprea de laqueo, quoniam vulnerata est anima eius;	22 Someone with a sly wink is plotting mischief, no one can dissuade him from it.
23 ultra eum non poteris colligare. Et maledicti est concordatio,	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.
24 denudare autem amici mysteria amputatio spei est.	24 I have found many things to hate, but nothing as much as him, and the Lord hates him too.
25 Annuens oculo fabricat iniqua; qui novit eum, recedet ab illo.	25 Whoever throws a stone in the air, throws it on to his own head; a treacherous blow cuts both ways.
26 In conspectu oculorum tuorum condulcabit os suum et super sermones tuos admirabitur; novissime autem pervertet os suum et in verbis tuis dabit scandalum.	26 The man who digs a pit falls into it, whoever sets a snare wil be caught by it.
27 Multa odivi et non coaequavi ei, et Dominus odiet illum.	27 On anyone who does evil, evil wil recoil, without his knowing where it comes from.
28 Qui in altum mittit lapidem, super caput eius cadet, et plaga dolosa dolosi dividet vulnera.	28 Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of the arrogant, but vengeance lies in wait like a lion for such a one.
29 Qui foveam fodit, incidet in eam, et, qui statuit lapidem proximo, offendet in eo, et, qui laqueum alii ponit, capietur in illo.	29 The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfal of the devout, and pain wil eat them up beforethey die.
30 Facienti nequissimum consilium, super ipsum devolvetur, et non agnoscet, unde adveniat illi.	30 Resentment and anger, these are foul things too, and a sinner is a master at them both.
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.