Chapter 27

¹ Many have sinned for a small matter;

Sir 27:1

² As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones;

Sir 27:2

³ Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord,

Sir 27:3

⁴ As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth;

Sir 27:4

⁵ The furnace proveth the potter’s vessels;

Sir 27:5

⁶ The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed;

Sir 27:6

⁷ Praise no man before thou hearest him speak;

Sir 27:7

⁸ If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her,

Sir 27:8

⁹ The birds will resort unto their like;

Sir 27:9

¹⁰ As the lion lieth in wait for the prey;

Sir 27:10

¹¹ The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom;

Sir 27:11

¹² If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time;

Sir 27:12

¹³ The discourse of fools is irksome,

Sir 27:13

¹⁴ The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright;

Sir 27:14

¹⁵ The strife of the proud is bloodshedding,

Sir 27:15

¹⁶ Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit;

Sir 27:16

¹⁷ Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him:

Sir 27:17

¹⁸ For as a man hath destroyed his enemy;

Sir 27:18

¹⁹ As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand,

Sir 27:19

²⁰ Follow after him no more, for he is too far off;

Sir 27:20

²¹ As for a wound, it may be bound up;

Sir 27:21

²² He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil:

Sir 27:22

²³ When thou art present, he will speak sweetly,

Sir 27:23

²⁴ I have hated many things, but nothing like him;

Sir 27:24

²⁵ Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head;

Sir 27:25

²⁶ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:

Sir 27:26

²⁷ He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him,

Sir 27:27

²⁸ Mockery and reproach are from the proud;

Sir 27:28

²⁹ They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare;

Sir 27:29

³⁰ Malice and wrath, even these are abominations;

Sir 27:30