XXVII. Many ahave sinned for * a small matter;

And he that bseeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.

2  As a cnail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones;

So ddoth sin stick close between buying and selling.

3  Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord,

His house shall soon be overthrown.

4  As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth;

So the efilth of man in his * italk.

5  fThe furnace proveth the potter’s vessels;

So kthe trial of man is in his greasoning.

6  hThe fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed;

So is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.

7  Praise no man before thou hearest him ispeak;

For kthis is the trial of men.

8  If thou followest lrighteousness, thou shalt obtain her,

And lput her on, mas a glorious long robe.

9  The birds will nresort unto their like;

So will truth return unto them that practise in her.

10  As othe lion lieth in wait for the prey;

So sin for them that work iniquity.

11  The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom;

But a fool changeth as the moon.

12  If thou be among the undiscreet, pobserve the time;

But be continually among men of understanding.

13  The discourse of fools is irksome,

And their sport is in the qwantonness of sin.

14  rThe talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright;

And their brawls make one stop his ears.

15  The strife of the proud is bloodshedding,

And their revilings are grievous to the ear.

16  sWhoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit;

And shall never find friend to his mind.

17  Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him:

But sif thou tbewrayest his secrets, ufollow no more after him.

18  For as a man hath destroyed his enemy;

So hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour.

19  xAs one that letteth a bird go out of his hand,

So hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again

20  uFollow after him no more, for he is too far off;

He is as a roe escaped out of the snare.

21  As for a wound, it may be bound up;

And after reviling there may be yreconcilement:

But she that tbewrayeth secrets is without hope.

22  He that zwinketh with the eyes worketh evil:

And he that knoweth him will depart from him.

23  When thou art present, ahe will speak sweetly,

And will admire thy words:

But at the last he will * writhe his mouth,

And slander thy sayings.

24  I have hated many things, but nothing like him;

For the Lord will hate him.

25  Whoso casteth a stone on high bcasteth it on his own head;

And a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.

26  cWhoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:

And he that setteth da trap shall be taken therein.

27  He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him,

And he shall not know whence it cometh.

28  Mockery and reproach are from the proud;

But evengeance, as fa lion, shall lie in wait for them.

29  They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be dtaken in the snare;

And anguish shall consume them before they die.

30  gMalice and wrath, even these are abominations;

And the sinful man shall have them both.