Ecclesiasticus 27

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