Sir 12:1 When thou wilt do good know to whom
thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.
Sir 12:2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if
not from him, yet from the most High.
Sir 12:3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor
to him that giveth no alms.
Sir 12:4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.
Sir 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.
Sir 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.
Sir 12:7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.
Sir 12:8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be
hidden in adversity.
Sir 12:9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his
adversity even a friend will depart.
Sir 12:10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his
wickedness.
Sir 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.
Sir 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.
Sir 12:13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such
as come nigh wild beasts?
Sir 12:14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his
sins, who will pity?
Sir 12:15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he
will not tarry.
Sir 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.
Sir 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.
Sir 12:18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and
change his countenance.