God's New Bible

The Book of Jesus Sirach

World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version

- Chapter 27 -

Dangers of sin from several heads: the fear of God is the best preservative. He that digs a pit, shall fall into it.

1
Many have sinned for profit. He who seeks to multiply wealth will turn his eye away.
2
As a nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones, so sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling.
3
Unless a person holds on diligently to the fear of the Lord, his house will be overthrown quickly.
4
In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains, so does the filth of man in his thoughts.
5
The furnace tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his thoughts.
6
The fruit of a tree discloses its cultivation, so is the utterance of the thought of a person’s heart.
7
Praise no man before you hear his thoughts, for this is how people are tested.
8
If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it, and put it on like a long robe of glory.
9
Birds will return to their own kind, so truth will return to those who practice it.
10
The lion lies in wait for prey. So does sin for those who do evil.
11
The discourse of a godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12
Limit your time among people void of understanding, but persevere among the thoughtful.
13
The talk of fools is offensive. Their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14
Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright. Their strife makes others plug their ears.
15
The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear.
16
He who reveals secrets destroys trust, and will not find a close friend.
17
Love a friend, and keep faith with him; but if you reveal his secrets, you shall not follow him;
18
for as a man has destroyed his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19
As a bird which you have released out of your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.
20
Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away, and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare.
21
For a wound may be bound up, and after abuse there may be reconciliation; but he who reveals secrets is without hope.
22
One who winks the eye contrives evil things; and those who know him will keep their distance.
23
When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words; but afterward he will twist his speech and set a trap in your words.
24
I have hated many things, but nothing like him. The Lord will hate him.
25
One who casts a stone straight up casts it on his own head. A deceitful blow opens wounds.
26
He who digs a pit will fall into it. He who sets a snare will be caught in it.
27
He who does evil things, they will roll back upon him, and he will not know where they came from.
28
Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant. Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29
Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare. Anguish will consume them before they die.
30
Wrath and anger, these also are abominations. A sinner will possess them.

Dangers of sin from several heads: the fear of God is the best preservative. He that digs a pit, shall fall into it.

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 potter’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.