1 Many have sinned for profit. He who seeks to multiply wealth will turn his eye away. (WEB) 2 As a nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones, so sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling. (WEB) 3 Unless a person holds on diligently to the fear of the Lord, his house will be overthrown quickly. (WEB) 4 In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains, so does the filth of man in his thoughts. (WEB) 5 The furnace tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his thoughts. (WEB) 6 The fruit of a tree discloses its cultivation, so is the utterance of the thought of a person’s heart. (WEB) 7 Praise no man before you hear his thoughts, for this is how people are tested. (WEB) 8 If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it, and put it on like a long robe of glory. (WEB) 9 Birds will return to their own kind, so truth will return to those who practice it. (WEB) 10 The lion lies in wait for prey. So does sin for those who do evil. (WEB) 11 The discourse of a godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon. (WEB) 12 Limit your time among people void of understanding, but persevere among the thoughtful. (WEB) 13 The talk of fools is offensive. Their laughter is wantonly sinful. (WEB) 14 Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright. Their strife makes others plug their ears. (WEB) 15 The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear. (WEB) 16 He who reveals secrets destroys trust, and will not find a close friend. (WEB) 17 Love a friend, and keep faith with him; but if you reveal his secrets, you shall not follow him; (WEB) 18 for as a man has destroyed his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor. (WEB) 19 As a bird which you have released out of your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again. (WEB) 20 Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away, and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare. (WEB) 21 For a wound may be bound up, and after abuse there may be reconciliation; but he who reveals secrets is without hope. (WEB) 22 One who winks the eye contrives evil things; and those who know him will keep their distance. (WEB) 23 When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words; but afterward he will twist his speech and set a trap in your words. (WEB) 24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him. The Lord will hate him. (WEB) 25 One who casts a stone straight up casts it on his own head. A deceitful blow opens wounds. (WEB) 26 He who digs a pit will fall into it. He who sets a snare will be caught in it. (WEB) 27 He who does evil things, they will roll back upon him, and he will not know where they came from. (WEB) 28 Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant. Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion. (WEB) 29 Those who rejoice at the fall of the go… (WEB)
Sirach 27:1–30
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 8:9–11
9 Don’t miss the discourse of the aged, for they also learned from their parents, because from them you will learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need. (WEB) 10 Don’t kindle the coals of a sinner, lest you be burned with the flame of his fire. (WEB) 11 Don’t rise… (WEB)
Sirach 11:32–34
32 From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals is kindled, and a sinful man lies in wait to shed blood. (WEB) 33 Take heed of an evil-doer, for he plans wicked things, lest perhaps he ruin your reputation forever. (WEB) 34 Receive a stranger into your house, and he will distract you… (WEB)
Sirach 21:2–4
2 Flee from sin as from the face of a snake; for if you go near, it will bite you. Its teeth are like lion’s teeth, slaying people’s souls. (WEB) 3 All iniquity is as a two-edged sword. Its stroke has no healing. (WEB) 4 Terror and violence will waste away riches. So the house o… (WEB)
Sirach 21:26–28
26 The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart. (WEB) 27 When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul. (WEB) 28 A whisperer defiles his own soul, and will be hated wherever he travels. (WEB)
Sirach 6:1–2
1 Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue. (WEB) 2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull. (WEB)
Proverbs 26:26–28
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Job 17:4–6
4 You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them. 5 If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail. 6 He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.
Sirach 13:11–13
11 Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; for he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner. (WEB) 12 He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind. (WEB) 13 Keep them to y… (WEB)
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