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[1] Many have sinned for a thing indifferent; And he that seeketh to multiplygain will turn his eye away.

[2] A nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones; And sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling.

[3] Unlessa man hold on diligently in the fear of the Lord, His house shall soon be overthrown.

[4] In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains; So the filth of man in his reasoning.

[5] The furnace will prove the potter's vessels; And the trial of a man is in his reasoning.

[6] The fruit of a tree declareth the husbandry thereof; So is the utterance of the thought of the heart of a man.

[7] Praise no man beforeyou hearest him reason; For this is the trial of men.

[8] If you followest 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 changeth 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 revealeth 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 revealeth secrets has lost hope.

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

[23] When you are present, he will speak sweetly, And will admire your words; But afterward he will writhe his mouth, And set a trapfor you in your words.

[24] I have hated many things, but nothing like him; And the Lord will hate him.

[25] One that casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; And a deceitful stroke will open wounds.

[26] He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; And he that sets a snare shall be taken therein.

[27] He that does evil things, they shall roll upon him, And he shall not know whence they have come to him.

[28] Mockery and reproach are from the haughty; And vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for him.

[29] They that rejoice at the fall of the godly shall be taken in a snare; And anguish shall consume them before they die.

[30] Wrath and anger, these also are abominations; And a sinful man shall possess them.

Ecclesiasticus — Chapters