Sirach 27
Common English Bible
27 Many have sinned because of money,
and whoever seeks to get more
will turn a blind eye.
2 A stake is driven
between cracks in stones,
and sin will be wedged
between selling and buying.
3 If people don’t remain mindful
of the respect due the Lord,
their houses will be quickly overthrown.
4 When a sieve is shaken,
rubbish remains behind;
so in the process of reasoning,
a person’s flaws appear.
5 A kiln tests a potter’s jars,
and decision making tests a person.
6 A tree’s fruit reveals
how well it has been cultivated.
In the same way, reasoning makes plain
a person’s thoughts.
7 Don’t praise people
until after they present an argument,
for this is how people are tested.
8 If you pursue what’s just,
you will possess it
and wear it like a glorious robe.
9 Birds will nest with their own kind,
and truth comes back
to those who practice it.
10 A lion lies in wait for prey
just as sin lies in wait
for those who practice injustice.
11 The godly always speak wisdom,
but the fool changes like the moon.
12 Limit the time you spend
with unintelligent people,
but linger with the thoughtful.
13 The conversation of fools is offensive,
as is their laughter
over sinful pleasures.
14 Their speech, full of profanity,
makes a person’s hair stand on end,
and their conflicts make people
stop up their ears.
15 The conflict of the arrogant
ends in bloodshed,
and their abuse is miserable to hear.
Relations with associates
16 Those who reveal secrets
have destroyed trust,
and they will never find a friend
for themselves.
17 Show affection to friends
and be loyal to them,
but if you reveal their secrets,
don’t follow after them.
18 Just as people destroy an enemy,[a]
so you have destroyed your friendship
with your neighbors.
19 And as you set a bird free from your hand,
so too you have let your neighbors go,
and you won’t catch them.
20 Don’t pursue them,
because they have withdrawn
far away from you,
and they have escaped
like a gazelle from a trap.
21 In the same way that it’s possible
to bandage a wound,
there’s also reconciliation for insult,
but the one who has let a friend’s secrets slip out has no hope.
22 Those who wink their eye plan evil,
and whoever recognizes them
will keep their distance.
23 To your face their speech will be sweet,
and they will express amazement
at your words.
But later they will distort what they said,
and they will use your own words
against you.
24 I’ve hated many things,
but nothing compares with them.
Even the Lord will hate them.
25 Those who throw stones up high
throw them on their own heads,
and a deceitful blow
will open up wounds.
26 Whoever digs a hole will fall into it,
and whoever sets a trap
will get caught in it.
27 Evil will roll back upon those
who practice evil,
and they will never know
where it came from.
28 Mocking and blaming
belong to the arrogant,
and vengeance, like a lion,
will lie in wait for them.
29 Those who rejoice when godly people fall
will get caught in a trap,
and pain will consume them
before their death.
30 Wrath and anger—
these also are detestable,
and they will possess the sinful person.
Footnotes
- Sirach 27:18 Some manuscripts a corpse
Sirach 27
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
27 Many have committed sin for a trifle,[a]
and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes.
2 As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones,
so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3 If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord,
his house will be quickly overthrown.
Tests in Life
4 When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains;
so a man’s filth remains in his thoughts.
5 The kiln tests the potter’s vessels;
so the test of a man is in his reasoning.
6 The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree;
so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man’s mind.
7 Do not praise a man before you hear him reason,
for this is the test of men.
Reward and Retribution
8 If you pursue justice, you will attain it
and wear it as a glorious robe.
9 Birds flock with their kind;
so truth returns to those who practice it.
10 A lion lies in wait for prey;
so does sin for the workers of iniquity.
Varieties of Speech
11 The talk of the godly man is always wise,
but the fool changes like the moon.
12 Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave,
but among thoughtful people stay on.
13 The talk of fools is offensive,
and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
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 The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed,
and their abuse is grievous to hear.
Betraying Secrets
16 Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence,
and he will never find a congenial friend.
17 Love your friend and keep faith with him;
but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him.
18 For as a man destroys his enemy,
so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
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 Do not go after him, for he is too far off,
and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21 For a wound may be bandaged,
and there is reconciliation after abuse,
but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
Hypocrisy and Retribution
22 Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds,
and no one can keep him from them.
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 I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him;
even the Lord will hate him.
25 Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head;
and a treacherous blow opens up wounds.
26 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who sets a snare will be caught in it.
27 If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him,
and he will not know where it came from.
28 Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man,[b]
but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion.
29 Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare,
and pain will consume them before their death.
Anger and Vengeance
30 Anger and wrath, these also are abominations,
and the sinful man will possess them.
Footnotes
- Sirach 27:1 One ancient authority reads gain
- Sirach 27:28 Other authorities read proud men
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
