World English Bible

Sirach 27:7-22 World English Bible (WEB)

7. Praise no man before you hear him reason; For this is the trial of men.

8. If you follow righteousness, you shall obtain her, And put her on, as a long robe of glory.

9. Birds will resort to their like; And truth will return to them that practise her.

10. The lion lies in wait for prey; So does sin for them that work iniquity.

11. The discourse of a godly man is always wisdom: But the foolish man changes as the moon.

12. Among men void of understanding observe the opportunity; But stay continually among the thoughtful.

13. The discourse of fools is an offence; And their laughter is in the wantonness of sin.

14. The talk of a man of many oaths will make the hair stand upright; And their strife makes one stop his ears.

15. The strife of the proud is a shedding of blood; And their reviling of each other is a grievous thing to hear.

16. He that reveals secrets destroys credit, And shall not find a friend to his mind.

17. Love a friend, and keep faith with him: But if you reveal his secrets, You shall not pursue after him;

18. For as a man has destroyed his enemy, So have you destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.

19. And as a bird which you have loosed out of your hand, So have you let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again:

20. Pursue him not, for he is gone far away, And has escaped as a gazelle out of the snare.

21. For a wound may be bound up, and after reviling there may be a reconcilement; But he that reveals secrets has lost hope.

22. One that winks with the eye contriveth evil things; And no man will remove him from it.