God's New Bible

The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 12 -

We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked.

1
If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds.
2
Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.
3
For 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.
4
Give 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.
5
Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.
6
Do 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.
7
For 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.
8
A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity.
9
In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity.
10
Never trust thy enemy: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:
11
Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him.
12
Set 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.
13
Who 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.
14
For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it.
15
An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.
16
An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood:
17
And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first.
18
An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet.
19
He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.

We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked.

1
If you do good, know to whom you do it, and your good deeds will have thanks.
2
Do good to a godly man, and you will find a reward— if not from him, then from the Most High.
3
No good will come to him who continues to do evil, nor to him who gives no alms.
4
Give to the godly man, and don’t help the sinner.
5
Do good to one who is lowly. Don’t give to an ungodly man. Keep back his bread, and don’t give it to him, lest he subdue you with it; for you would receive twice as much evil for all the good you would have done to him.
6
For the Most High also hates sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.(a)
7
Give to the good man, and don’t help the sinner.
8
A man’s friend won’t be(b) fully tried in prosperity. His enemy won’t be hidden in adversity.
9
In a man’s prosperity, his enemies are grieved. In his adversity, even his friend leaves.
10
Never trust your enemy, for his wickedness is like corrosion in copper.
11
Though he humbles himself and walks bowed down, still be careful and beware of him. You will be to him as one who has wiped a mirror, to be sure it doesn’t completely tarnish.
12
Don’t set him next to you, lest he overthrow you and stand in your place. Don’t let him sit on your right hand, lest he seek to take your seat, and at the last you acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings.
13
Who will pity a charmer that is bitten by a snake, or any who come near wild beasts?
14
Even so, who will pity him who goes to a sinner, and is associated with him in his sins?
15
For a while he will stay with you, and if you falter, he will not stay.
16
The enemy will speak sweetly with his lips, and in his heart plan to throw you into a pit. The enemy may weep with his eyes, but if he finds opportunity, he will want more blood.
17
If adversity meets you, you will find him there before you. Pretending to help you, he will trip you.
18
He will shake his head, clap his hands, whisper much, and change his countenance.

Footnotes

(a)12:6 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
(b)12:8 Or, punished
⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞