Ecclesiasticus, 27

1. Many have sinned for the sake of profit, one who hopes to be rich must turn a blind eye.

2. A peg will stick in the joint between two stones, and sin will wedge itself between selling and buying.

3. Whoever does not firmly hold to the fear of the Lord, his house will soon be overthrown.

4. In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a person appear in speech.

5. The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a person is in conversation.

6. The orchard where the tree grows is judged by its fruit, similarly words betray what a person feels.

7. Do not praise anyone who has not yet spoken, since this is where people are tested.

8. If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown.

9. Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practise it.

10. The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong.

11. The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon.

12. When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time.

13. The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures.

14. The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop your ears.

15. A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed, and their insults are embarrassing to hear.

16. A betrayer of secrets forfeits all trust and will never find the kind of friend he wants.

17. Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after him any more;

18. for, as one destroys a person by killing him, so you have killed your neighbour's friendship,

19. and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go, and will not catch him.

20. Do not go after him -- he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the snare.

21. For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope.

22. Someone with a sly wink is plotting mischief, no one can dissuade him from it.

23. Honey-tongued to your face, he is lost in admiration at your words; but behind your back he has other things to say, and turns your words into a stumbling-block.

24. I have found many things to hate, but nothing as much as him, and the Lord hates him too.

25. Whoever throws a stone in the air, throws it on to his own head; a treacherous blow cuts both ways.

26. The man who digs a pit falls into it, whoever sets a snare will be caught by it.

27. On anyone who does evil, evil will recoil, without his knowing where it comes from.

28. Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of the arrogant, but vengeance lies in wait like a lion for such a one.

29. The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfall of the devout, and pain will eat them up before they die.

30. Resentment and anger, these are foul things too, and a sinner is a master at them both.