Chapter 27

27. Many have sinned for a small matter, and he that seeks for abundance will turn his eyes away, for as a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones, so doth sin stick close between buying and selling; unless a man diligently apply himself in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown. As when one shakes a sieve, the dust remains, so the filth of man remains in his talk, for the furnace proves the potter's vessels, and the trial of man is in his reasoning. The fruit tree is known by the dressing, so is a man by his talk, and let the talk of him that is chosen be before thou judge him, for this is the way of men. If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain it, and put it on as a glorious long robe; birds will resort unto their like, so will truth return unto them that practise in her. The lion preys upon the ass in the wilderness, so do the proud upon the poor, and as the shepherd's shift is a burden of the shepherd, so is the talk of a proud man in the congregation. Lying lips are a reproach to a man, and the mouth of the proud shall bring forth curses, but let the counsel of the most High stand. The tongue of a fool is his body, and the tongue of a wise man is in his heart, for when the ungodly curses Satan, he curses his own soul. A whisperer defiles his own soul and is hated wherever he dwells; if thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation, except for upbraiding, arrogancy, disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound, for these are the causes for which every friend will depart. Whoever separates himself from a friend, a brother, or a lover will not be able to stop his mouth, and whoever separates himself from them will not be able to comfort them, for he that is full of iniquity will not be able to endure the separation, and he that is full of unrighteousness will not be able to turn away his face. Put a door and bar to your mouth, and make a hedge about your ears, for the fear of the Lord is a gift of the Lord, and it will keep you from all evil. He that casts a stone on high casts it on his own head, and a deceitful blow will make wounds. Whoever digs a pit shall fall therein, and he that sets a snare shall be taken therein; he that works mischief, it shall turn upon him, and he shall not know whence it comes. Mockery and reproach are from the proud, but vengeance as a lion shall lie in wait for them, and they that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be snared, and sorrow shall consume them before they are dead. Malice and wrath, even these are abominations, and the sinful man shall have them both.