Liber Ecclesiasticus, 28
1. Qui vindicari vult, a Domino inveniet vindictam, et peccata illius servans servabit.
1. Many have committed sin for a trifle, and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes.
2. Dimitte proximo tuo nocenti te, et tunc deprecanti tibi peccata tua solventur.
2. As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3. Homo homini reservat iram et a Deo quaerit medelam?
3. If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.
4. In hominem similem sibi non habet misericordiam et de peccatis suis deprecatur?
4. When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man's filth remains in his thoughts.
5. Ipse, cum caro sit, reservat iram et propitiationem petit a Deo? Quis exorabit pro delictis illius?
5. The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a man is in his reasoning.
6. Memento novissimorum et desine inimicari,
6. The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind.
7. tabitudinis et mortis et permane in mandatis eius.
7. Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men.
8. Memorare mandatorum et non irascaris proximo.
8. If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it as a glorious robe.
9. Memorare testamentum Altissimi et ne respicias ignorantiam proximi.
9. Birds flock with their kind; so truth returns to those who practice it.
10. Abstine te a lite et minues peccata:
10. A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for the workers of iniquity.
11. homo enim iracundus incendit litem, et vir peccator turbabit amicos et in medio pacem habentium immittet inimicitiam.
11. The talk of the godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12. Secundum enim ligna silvae sic ignis exardescit, et secundum virtutem hominis sic iracundia illius erit, et secundum substantiam suam exaltabit iram suam.
12. Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.
13. Certamen festinatum incendit ignem, et lis festinans effundit sanguinem, et lingua testificans adducit mortem.
13. The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14. Si sufflaveris in scintillam, quasi ignis exardebit; et, si exspueris super illam, exstinguetur: utraque ex ore tuo proficiscuntur.
14. The talk of men given to swearing makes one's hair stand on end, and their quarrels make a man stop his ears.
15. Susurro et bilinguis maledictus: multos enim perdidit pacem habentes.
15. The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, and their abuse is grievous to hear.
16. Lingua tertia multos commovit et dispersit illos de gente in gentem;
16. Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and he will never find a congenial friend.
17. civitates muratas divitum destruxit et domos magnatorum evertit;
17. Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him.
18. virtutes populorum concidit et gentes fortes dissolvit.
18. For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19. Lingua tertia mulieres viratas eiecit et privavit illas laboribus suis.
19. And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.
20. Qui respicit illam, non habebit requiem nec habebit amicum, in quo requiescat.
20. Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21. Flagelli plaga livorem facit, plaga autem linguae comminuet ossa;
21. For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
22. multi ceciderunt in ore gladii, sed non sic quasi qui interierunt per linguam suam.
22. Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds, and no one can keep him from them.
23. Beatus, qui tectus est ab ea, qui in iracundiam illius non transivit, et qui non attraxit iugum illius et in vinculis eius non est ligatus.
23. In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will give offense.
24. Iugum enim illius iugum ferreum est, et vinculum illius vinculum aereum est;
24. I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him; even the Lord will hate him.
25. mors illius mors nequissima, et utilis potius infernus quam illa.
25. Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head; and a treacherous blow opens up wounds.
26. Non obtinebit imperium iustorum, et in flamma eius non comburentur;
26. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who sets a snare will be caught in it.
27. qui relinquunt Deum, incident in illam, et exardebit in illis et non exstinguetur et immittetur in illos quasi leo et quasi pardus laedet illos.
27. If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.
28. Saepi aures tuas spinis, linguam nequam noli audire et ori tuo facito ostia et seras.
28. Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man, but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion.
29. Aurum tuum et argentum tuum obsigna et verbis tuis facito stateram et frenos ori tuo rectos.
29. Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death.
30. Et attende, ne forte labaris in lingua, ne cadas in conspectu inimicorum insidiantium tibi, et sit casus tuus insanabilis in mortem.
30. Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them.
