Sirach 27 Because of pouertie haue many one offended: and he that seketh to be riche, turneth his eyes asyde.

Bishops⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Because of pouertie haue many one offended: and he that seketh to be riche, turneth his eyes asyde. ² Lyke as a nayle in the wal sticketh fast betwixt two stones: euen so doth sinne sticke betwixt the bier and the seller. ³ If he holde him not diligently in the feare of the Lorde, his house shall soone be ouerthrowen. ⁴ Lyke as when one sifteth, the filthynesse remayneth in the syue: So remayneth there some vncleane thing in the thought of man. ⁵ The ouen proueth the potters vessel: so doth temptation of trouble trye righteous men. ⁶ The tree of the fielde is knowen by his fruite: so is the thought of mans heart knowen by his wordes. ⁷ Prayse no man except thou haue heard him: for a man is knowen by his wordes. ⁸ If thou folowest righteousnes, thou shalt get her, and put her vpon thee as a fayre garment: and thou shalt dwell with her, and she shall defende thee for euer, and in the day of knowledge thou shalt finde stedfastnesse. ⁹ The byrdes resorte vnto their lyke: so doth the trueth turne vnto them that be occupied withall. ¹⁰ The lion wayteth the pray: so doth sinne vpon them that worke vnrighteousnesse. ¹¹ The talking of him that feareth God, is nothing but wysdome: as for a foole he chaungeth as the moone. ¹² If thou be among the vndiscrete, kepe thy wordes to a conuenient time: but among such as be wise, speake on hardyly. ¹³ The talking of fooles is abhomination, and their sport is volupteousnesse and misnurture. ¹⁴ Much swearing maketh the heere to stande vp: and to stryue with such, stoppeth the eares. ¹⁵ The stryfe of the proude is bloodshedding, and their blaspheming is heauy to heare. ¹⁶ Who so discouereth secretes, leeseth his credence, and fyndeth no friende after his will. ¹⁷ Loue thy friende, and binde thy selfe in faythfulnesse with him: but if thou bewrayest his secretes, thou shalt not get him againe. ¹⁸ For like as the man is that destroyeth his enemie: so is he also that dealeth falsly in the friendship of his neyghbour. ¹⁹ Like as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande, can not take her againe: Euen so thou, if thou geue ouer thy friende, thou canst not get him againe. ²⁰ Yea thou canst not come by him, for he is to farre of: He is vnto thee as a Roe escaped out of the snare, for his soule is wounded. ²¹ As for woundes, they may be bounde vp againe, and an euyll worde may be reconciled: but who so bewrayeth the secretes of a friende, there is no more hope to be had vnto him. ²² He that winketh with the eyes, imagineth some euyll: and he that knoweth him, will let him alone. ²³ When thou art present, he shall hyghlie commende and prayse thy wordes: but at the last he shall turne his tayle, and sclaunder thy saying. ²⁴ Many thinges haue I hated, but nothing so euyll: for the Lorde him selfe also abhorreth such a one. ²⁵ Who so casteth a stone an hye, it shal fal vpon his owne head: and he that smyteth with guyle, woundeth him selfe. ²⁶ Who so diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that layeth a stone in his neyghbours way, shall stumble theron, and he that layeth a snare for another, shall be taken in it him selfe. ²⁷ Who so geueth a wicked noisome counsell, it shall come vpon hym selfe, and he shall not knowe from whence. ²⁸ The proude blaspheme and are scorneful: but vengeaunce lurketh for them as a lion. ²⁹ They that reioyce at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare: anguishe of heart shall consume them before they dye. ³⁰ Anger and rigorousnesse are two abhominable thinges, and the vngodly hath them both vpon hym.