Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Where buying and selling – there often is sin. Before conversation, do not praise a person. Strive for righteousness – and you will find it. Do not spend time among the foolish. Love a friend and be faithful to him. Avoid double-dealing and deceit. He who throws a stone upward throws it on his own head. He who digs a pit will fall into it himself; he who sets a snare will be caught in it himself.”

Sirach 27:1. “Many have sinned because of small things, and the one who seeks wealth turns away his eyes. Sirach 27:2. “Just as a nail is driven in between the joints of stones, so sin enters between selling and buying. Sirach 27:3. “If anyone does not hold himself carefully in the fear of the Lord, his house will soon be ruined. Sirach 27:4. “When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains: so the uncleanness of a man remains in his reasoning. Sirach 27:5. “Earthen vessels are tested in the furnace, and a man is tested in conversation. Sirach 27:6. “Care for a tree is revealed in its fruit: so in a word – the thoughts of the human heart. “6. As the quality of fruit – good or bad – depends greatly on the care of the tree and testifies to the degree of that care, so the product of human thoughts and feelings – a word – greatly expresses innate inclinations and the degree of a person’s good upbringing.”

Sirach 27:7. “Do not praise a man before conversation, for it is a test of people. Sirach 27:8. “If you will earnestly seek righteousness, you will find it and clothe yourself with it like a robe of glory. “8. A podere is a long garment worn by Jewish high priests and kings.”

Sirach 27:9. “Birds gather with their like, and truth returns to those who practice it. Sirach 27:10. “Just as a lion lies in wait for prey, so sins lie in wait for those who commit evil. Sirach 27:11. “The conversation of the pious is always wisdom, but the fool changes like the moon. Sirach 27:12. “Do not spend your time among the foolish, but spend it constantly among the wise. Sirach 27:13. “The conversation of fools is repugnant, and their laughter is in the pursuit of sin. Sirach 27:14. “The idle talk of those who swear much will make your hair stand on end, and their quarreling will deafen your ears. Sirach 27:15. “The quarrel of the arrogant – bloodshed, and their abuse is unbearable to hear. Sirach 27:16. “He who reveals secrets has lost trust and will not find a kindred friend. Sirach 27:17. “Love a friend and be faithful to him; Sirach 27:18. “But if you reveal his secrets, do not run after him: Sirach 27:19. “For as a man kills his enemy, so you have killed the friendship of your neighbor; Sirach 27:20. “And as you would let a bird out of your hands, so you have let go of your friend and will not catch him; Sirach 27:21. “Do not run after him, for he has gone far away and has escaped like a doe from a net. Sirach 27:22. “A wound can be bound, and after a quarrel reconciliation is possible; Sirach 27:23. “But whoever has revealed secrets has lost hope of reconciliation. Sirach 27:24. “Whoever winks an eye, plots mischief, and no one will keep him from it; “24. A man of deceit cannot bear a direct, honest gaze.”

Sirach 27:25. “Before your eyes he will speak sweetly and will marvel at your words, Sirach 27:26. “But later he will pervert his mouth and will reveal a stumbling block in your words; Sirach 27:27. “Much have I hated, but not so much as him; and the Lord will hate him. Sirach 27:28. “He who throws a stone upward throws it on his own head, and a treacherous blow will split wounds. Sirach 27:29. “He who digs a pit will fall into it himself, and he who sets a snare will be caught in it himself. Sirach 27:30. “He who does evil, it will return upon him, and he will not know where it came to him from; Sirach 27:31. “Mockery and reproach from the proud, and vengeance like a lion will lie in wait for him. Sirach 27:32. “Those caught in the net will rejoice at the downfall of the pious, and grief will wear them out before their death. Sirach 27:33. “Malice and wrath – these too are abominations, and a sinful man will be possessed by them.