The Temptations of Commerce
1 Many have sinned for profit. He who seeks to multiply wealth will turn his eye away. 2 Sin pushes in between buying and selling like a nail wedged between the joints of stones. 3 Unless a person holds on diligently to the fear of the Lord, his house will be overthrown quickly.
Testing Character through Words
4 When a sieve is shaken, refuse remains. So a person’s filth remains in his thoughts. 5 The furnace tests the potter’s vessels, so the test of a person is in his thoughts. 6 The fruit of a tree reveals its cultivation, and spoken words reveal the thoughts of a person’s heart. 7 Praise no man before you hear his thoughts, for this is how people are tested. 8 If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it, and put it on like a long robe of glory. 9 Birds will return to their own kind, so truth will return to those who practice it. 10 The lion lies in wait for prey. So does sin for those who do evil.
The Talk of Fools
11 The speech of a godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon. 12 Limit your time among people without understanding, but persevere among the thoughtful. 13 The talk of fools is offensive. Their laughter is recklessly sinful. 14 Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand on end. Their quarrels makes others plug their ears. 15 The quarrels of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is painful to hear.
Keeping a Friend’s Secrets
16 He who reveals secrets destroys trust, and will not find a close friend. 17 Love a friend, and keep faith with him, but if you reveal his secrets, do not follow him, 18 for you have destroyed your neighbor’s friendship like a man who has destroyed his enemy. 19 You have let your neighbor go like a bird released from your hand, and you will not catch him again. 20 Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away, and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare. 21 For a wound may be bandaged, and after abuse there may be reconciliation, but he who reveals secrets is without hope.
Deception and Its Consequences
22 One who winks the eye plans evil things, and those who know him will keep their distance. 23 When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words, but afterward he will twist his speech and set a trap in your words. 24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him. The Lord will hate him. 25 One who throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head. A deceitful blow opens wounds. 26 He who digs a pit will fall into it. He who sets a snare will be caught in it. 27 The evil a person does will roll back on him, and he will not know where they came from. 28 Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant. Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion. 29 Those who celebrate the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare. Anguish will consume them before they die.
Anger and Forgiveness
30 Fury and anger are also detestable. A sinner will possess them.
Texts in conversation
Compare Jesus Ben Sira, Sirach 27:5 and Augustine, City of God 21.26
Deuterocanon · Early Christian
Summary
Passages
Jesus Ben Sira, Sirach 27:5
Deuterocanon · Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticushis house will be overthrown quickly. 4 When a sieve is shaken, refuse remains.
So a person’s filth remains in his thoughts. 5 The furnace tests the potter’s vessels,
so the test of a person is in his thoughts. 6 The fruit of a tree reveals its cultivation,
and spoken words reveal the thoughts of a person’s heart. 7 Praise no man before you hear his thoughts,
for this is how people are tested.
Augustine, City of God 21.26
Early Christian · On the City of God Against the PagansReferences
References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.
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