Sirach
12:1 When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be
thanked for thy benefits.
12:2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not
from him, yet from the most High.
12:3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to
him that giveth no alms.
12:4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.
12:5 Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back
thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby:
for [else] thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou
shalt have done unto him.
12:6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the
ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.
12:7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.
12:8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in
adversity.
12:9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity
even a friend will depart.
12:10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.
12:11 Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and
beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a
lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether
wiped away.
12:12 Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he stand up in
thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to take
thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked
therewith.
12:13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as
come nigh wild beasts?
12:14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who
will pity?
12:15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will
not tarry.
12:16 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth
how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he find
opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.
12:17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though
he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.
12:18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change
his countenance.
