Sirach 12

¹If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your good deeds.

²Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.

³For there is no good for someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant.

⁴Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution.

⁵Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.

⁶Do good to the humble, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it.

⁷For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious.

⁸A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.

⁹By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.

¹⁰You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.

¹¹And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.

¹²You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon.

¹³Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous man and is involved in his sins.

¹⁴For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.

¹⁵An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit.

¹⁶An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

¹⁷And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.

¹⁸An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.

¹⁹He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.

Sirach 12

¹If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds.

²Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.

³For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.

⁴Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance.

⁵Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.

⁶Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee.

⁷For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.

⁸A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity.

⁹In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity.

¹⁰Never trust thy enemy for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:

¹¹Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him.

¹²Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings.

¹³Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins.

¹⁴For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it.

¹⁵An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.

¹⁶An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood:

¹⁷And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first.

¹⁸An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet.

¹⁹He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.