Ben Sira 27:16-27 New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

16. Whoever betrays a secret destroys confidence,and will never find a congenial friend.

17. Cherish your friend, keep faith with him;but if you betray his secrets, do not go after him;

18. For as one might kill another,you have killed your neighbor’s friendship.

19. Like a bird released from your hand,you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him.

20. Do not go after him, for he is far away,and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.

21. For a wound can be bandaged, and an insult forgiven,but whoever betrays secrets does hopeless damage.

22. Whoever has shifty eyes plots mischiefand those who know him will keep their distance;

23. In your presence he uses honeyed talk,and admires your words,But later he changes his toneand twists the words to your ruin.

24. I have hated many things but not as much as him,and the Lord hates him as well.

25. A stone falls back on the head of the one who throws it high,and a treacherous blow causes many wounds.

26. Whoever digs a pit falls into it,and whoever lays a snare is caught in it.

27. The evil anyone does will recoil on himwithout knowing how it came upon him.

Ben Sira 27