Ecclesiasticus, 27

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

1. Many sin for love of gain, he who desires riches silences his conscience.

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

2. Just as the stake is settled between two stones, so sin wedges itself between buying and selling.

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

3. The house of him who does not keep himself firmly in the fear of the Lord will soon be knocked to the ground.

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

4. When a sieve is shaken the dirt falls through; so, too, the defects of a man are seen when he begins to speak.

5. The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.

5. The kiln tests the potter's handiwork; a man is tested by his conversation.

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

6. A well-tended tree is shown by its fruits so a man's feelings can be detected in what he says.

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

7. Praise no one before he has spoken, since this is the acid test.

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

8. If you pursue righteousness, you will achieve it and wear it like a festive garment.

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

9. Birds associate with their own kind, so, too, does truth greet those who are faithful.

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

10. The lion lurks in wait for its prey; so, too, does sin lie in wait 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 wise man's conversation follows wisdom all the time. In contrast, the fool changes like the moon.

12. If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.

12. When among fools, be sparing with your time; among thoughtful people, be lavish with it.

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

13. The conversation of fools is hateful, their laughter is coarse and raucous.

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

14. No one can bear those who swear all the time. Their quarrels make you cover your ears.

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

15. Blood is spilt when proud men quarrel and their insults are painful to the ear.

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

16. He who betrays a secret is no longer trusted; he will no longer find reliable friends.

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

17. Love your friend and be loyal; if you have revealed his secrets, go with him no longer.

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

18. It is like having lost some of your relatives: his friendship to you has died.

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. Like a bird, you have let your friend go, you will not get him back. When you open your hand, the bird flies off;

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 pursue him: he is far away and has fled like a gazelle 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 an insult forgiven, but if you betray 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. The man who winks an eye is plotting evil, no one can persuade him to change.

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. He is all sweetness to your face, praising your words, but behind your back he speaks differently and twists your words.

24. I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.

24. I hate many things but nothing more than this man; the Lord, also, hates and curses him.

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

25. When one tosses a stone in the air it falls back on his head; whoever deals a treacherous blow, wounds himself.

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

26. He who digs a pit will fall into it; he who sets a snare will be caught in it.

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

27. If you do evil, evil will befall you and you will not know from where it comes.

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

28. The proud man makes use of mockery and insults, but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion.

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. Those who gloat over the downfall of good men will fall into the snare; suffering will consume them before they die.

30. Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.

30. Grudge and wrath, these also are abominations in which sinful people excel.