Sirach 27

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