The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 27

1Many have sinned for a thing indifferent; gain will turn his eye away. 2A nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones; thrust itself in between buying and selling. Gr. rub. 3Unless a man hold on diligently in the fear of the Lord, 4In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains; 5The furnace will prove the potter’s vessels; 6The fruit of a tree declares the husbandry thereof; 7Praise no man before you hear him reason; 8If you follow righteousness, you will obtain her, 9Birds will resort to their like; 10The lion lies in wait for prey; 11The discourse of a godly man is always wisdom: 12Among men void of understanding observe the opportunity; 13The discourse of fools is an offence; 14The talk of a man of many oaths will make the hair stand upright; 15The strife of the proud is a shedding of blood; 16He that reveals secrets destroys credit, 17Love a friend, and keep faith with him: 18For as a man has destroyed his enemy, 19And as a bird which you have loosed out of your hand, 20Pursue him not, for he is gone far away, 21For a wound may be bound up, and after reviling there may be a reconcilement; 22One that winks with the eye contriveth evil things; 23When you are present, he will speak sweetly, for you in your words. 24I have hated many things, but nothing like him; 25One that casts a stone on high casts it on his own head; 26He that digs a pit will fall into it; 27He that does evil things, they will roll upon him, 28Mockery and reproach are from the haughty; 29They that rejoice at the fall of the godly will be taken in a snare; 30Wrath and anger, these also are abominations;