The Word Am I

The Book of Jesus Sirach

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- Chapter 12 -

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 there will be many thanks for your good deeds.
2
Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.
3
For 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.
4
Give 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.
5
Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.
6
Do 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.
7
For 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.
8
A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.
9
By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.
10
You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.
11
And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.
12
You 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.
13
Who 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.
14
For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.
15
An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit.
16
An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.
17
And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.
18
An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.
19
He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.

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
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