The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 27

¹ Many have sinned for a small matter and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away ⚑

² As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones so doth sin stick close between buying and selling ⚑

³ Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord his house shall soon be overthrown ⚑

⁴ As when one sifteth with a sieve the refuse remaineth so the filth of man in his talk ⚑

⁵ The furnace proveth the otter’s vessels so the trial of man is in his reasoning ⚑

⁶ The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man ⚑

⁷ Praise no man before thou hearest him speak for this is the trial of men ⚑

⁸ If thou followest righteousness thou shalt obtain her and put her on as a glorious long robe ⚑

⁹ The birds will resort unto their like so will truth return unto them that practise in her ⚑

¹⁰ As the lion lieth in wait for the prey so sin for them that work iniquity ⚑

¹¹ The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom but a fool changeth as the moon ⚑

¹² If thou be among the indiscreet observe the time but be continually among men of understanding ⚑

¹³ The discourse of fools is irksome and their sport is the wantonness of sin ⚑

¹⁴ The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright and their brawls make one stop his ears ⚑

¹⁵ The strife of the proud is bloodshedding and their revilings are grievous to the ear ⚑

¹⁶ Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit and shall never find friend to his mind ⚑

¹⁷ Love thy friend and be faithful unto him but if thou betrayest his secrets follow no more after him ⚑

¹⁸ For as a man hath destroyed his enemy so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor ⚑

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 Follow after him no more for he is too far off he is as a roe escaped out of 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 ⚑

²² He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil and he that knoweth him will depart from him ⚑

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 hated many things but nothing like him for the Lord will hate him ⚑

²⁵ Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds ⚑

²⁶ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein ⚑

²⁷ He that worketh mischief it shall fall upon him and he shall not know whence it cometh ⚑

²⁸ Mockery and reproach are from the proud but vengeance as a lion shall lie in wait for them ⚑

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 Malice and wrath even these are abominations and the sinful man shall have them both ⚑