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Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 27
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Chapter 27
1
Many have sinned for the sake of profit, he who hopes to be rich must be ruthless.
2
A peg will stick in the joint between two stones, and sin will wedge itself between selling and buying.
3
If a man does not hold earnestly to the fear of the Lord, his House will soon be overthrown.
Speech
4
In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a man appear in his talk.
5
The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a man is in his conversation.
6
The orchard where the tree grows is judged on the quality of its fruit, similarly a man’s words betray what he feels.
7
Do not praise a man before he has spoken, since this is the test of men.
Virtue
8
If you pursue justice you will achieve it and put it on like a festal gown.
9
Birds consort with their kind, justice comes home to those who practise it.
10
The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong.
11
The devout man’s conversation is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon.
12
Among stupid people look for your opportunity to leave, but among thoughtful men take your time.
13
The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter at their sinful orgies.
14
The talk of hard-swearing men makes your hair stand on end, their brawls make you stop your ears.
15
A quarrel between proud men leads to bloodshed, their abuse is painful to hear.
Secrets
16
A betrayer of secrets forfeits all esteem and will never find the kind of friend he wants.
17
Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not pursue him any more;
18
for as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbour,
19
and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go, and will not catch him
20
Do not go after him – he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the snare.
21
For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the man who has betrayed a secret there is no hope.
Hypocrisy
22
The man with a sly wink is plotting mischief, no one can dissuade him from it.
23
Honey-tongued to your face, he is lost in admiration at your words; but behind your back he has other things to say, and makes your own words sound offensive.
24
I have found many things to hate, but nothing to equal this man, and the Lord hates him too.
25
The man who throws a stone in the air, throws it on to his own head; a treacherous blow cuts both ways.
26
The man who digs a pit falls into it, he who sets a snare will be caught by it.
27
On the man who does evil, evil will recoil, though where it came from he will not know.
28
Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of an arrogant man, but vengeance lies in wait like a lion for him.
29
The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfall of the devout, and pain will eat them up before they die.
Resentment
30
Resentment and anger, these are foul things too, and both are found with the sinner.
Chapters of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
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