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