Jesus 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.

1[Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris, et erit gratia in bonis tuis multa.

2Benefac justo, et invenies retributionem magnam: et si non ab ipso, certe a Domino.

3Non est enim ei bene qui assiduus est in malis, et eleemosynas non danti: quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores, et misertus est pœnitentibus.

4Da misericordi, et ne suscipias peccatorem: et impiis et peccatoribus reddet vindictam, custodiens eos in diem vindictæ.

5Da bono, et non receperis peccatorem.

6Benefac humili, et non dederis impio: prohibe panes illi dari, ne in ipsis potentior te sit:

7nam duplicia mala invenies in omnibus bonis quæcumque feceris illi, quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores, et impiis reddet vindictam.]

8[Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus, et non abscondetur in malis inimicus.

9In bonis viri, inimici illius in tristitia: et in malitia illius, amicus agnitus est.

10Non credas inimico tuo in æternum: sicut enim æramentum æruginat nequitia illius:

11et si humiliatus vadat curvus, adjice animum tuum, et custodi te ab illo.

12Non statuas illum penes te, nec sedeat ad dexteram tuam, ne forte conversus in locum tuum, inquirat cathedram tuam, et in novissimo agnosces verba mea, et in sermonibus meis stimuleris.

13Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso, et omnibus qui appropiant bestiis? et sic qui comitatur cum viro iniquo, et obvolutus est in peccatis ejus.

14Una hora tecum permanebit: si autem declinaveris, non supportabit.

15In labiis suis indulcat inimicus, et in corde suo insidiatur ut subvertat te in foveam.

16In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus, et si invenerit tempus, non satiabitur sanguine.

17Et si incurrerint tibi mala, invenies eum illic priorem.

18In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus, et quasi adjuvans suffodiet plantas tuas.

19Caput suum movebit, et plaudet manu, et multa susurrans commutabit vultum suum.]

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.