The Word Am I

The Book of Jesus Sirach

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 13 -

Cautions in the choice of company.

1
Whoever touches pitch will be contaminated by it. And whoever associates with the arrogant will be clothed by arrogance.
2
Whoever associates with those more honorable than himself sets a burden on himself. And so, you should have no fellowship with someone who is wealthier than you.
3
What will the cooking pot have in common with the earthen vessel? And when they collide with one another, one will be broken.
4
The rich man has suffered no injustice, and yet he fumes. But the poor man, though he has been wounded, will remain silent.
5
If you are generous, he will take you up; and when you have nothing, he will cast you aside.
6
If you possess, he will feast with you, and he will empty you, and he will not grieve over you.
7
If he has need of you, he will deceive you; and while smiling, he will give you hope. He will converse with you pleasantly, and he will say: “What is it that you need?”
8
And he will impress you with his foods, until he has drained you two or three times, and in the very end, he will ridicule you. And afterward, when he sees you, he will abandon you, and he will shake his head at you.
9
Humble yourself before God, and wait for his hands.
10
Be careful. Otherwise, having been seduced into foolishness, you will be humiliated.
11
Do not choose to be low in your wisdom, otherwise, having been brought low, you will be seduced into foolishness.
12
If you are invited by someone who is more powerful than you, you should decline. Otherwise, he will invite you all the more.
13
You cannot be rude to him, lest you be pushed away. And you cannot stray far from him, lest you be forgotten.
14
You cannot hold a discussion with him as with an equal. You should not trust his many words. For by much talking, he will probe you, and while smiling, he will question you about your secrets.
15
His cruel mind will store up your words; and he will not spare you from affliction, nor from prison.
16
Be cautious of yourself, and attend diligently to what you are hearing. For you are walking toward your own destruction.
17
Yet truly, while listening to these things, consider it as if it were a dream, and you will awaken.
18
Love God for your entire life, and call upon him for your salvation.
19
Every animal loves its own kind; so also every man loves those closest to himself.
20
All flesh will join with whatever is similar to itself, and every man will associate with whomever is similar to himself.
21
If a wolf would at any time have fellowship with a lamb, so also would a sinner have fellowship with the just.
22
What fellowship does a holy man have with a dog? Or what portion do the wealthy have with the poor?
23
In the desert, the wild donkey is the prey of the lion. So also are the poor the pasture of the rich.
24
And just as humility is an abomination to the arrogant, so also does the rich man abhor the poor man.
25
When a wealthy man has been shaken, he is strengthened by his friends. But when a lowly man has fallen, he is expelled even by those who know him well.
26
When a rich man has been deceived, many will help him recover; he has spoken arrogantly, and yet they justify him.
27
When a poor man has been deceived, in addition he is rebuked; he has spoken with understanding, and no place is given to him.
28
The rich man has spoken, and all remain silent, and they repeat his words, even to the clouds.
29
The poor man has spoken, and they say: “Who is this?” And if he stumbles, they will overthrow him.
30
Substance is good for him who has no sin on his conscience. And poverty is called very wicked by the mouth of the impious.
31
The heart of a man changes his face, either for better or for worse.
32
You will find, with difficulty and much labor, the sign of a good heart and a good face.

Cautions in the choice of company.

1
He who touches pitch will be defiled. He who has fellowship with a proud man will become like him.
2
Don’t take up a burden above your strength. Have no fellowship with one who is mightier and richer than yourself. What fellowship would the earthen pot have with the kettle? The kettle will strike, and the pot will be dashed in pieces.
3
The rich man does a wrong and threatens. The poor is wronged and apologizes.
4
If you are profitable, he will exploit you. If you are in need, he will forsake you.
5
If you own something, he will live with you. He will drain your resources and will not be sorry.
6
Does he need you? Then he will deceive you, smile at you, and give you hope. He will speak kindly to you and say, “What do you need?”
7
He will shame you by his delicacies until he has made you bare twice or thrice, and in the end he will laugh you to scorn. Afterward he will see you, will forsake you, and shake his head at you.
8
Beware that you are not deceived and brought low in your enjoyment.
9
If a mighty man invites you, be reserved, and he will invite you more.
10
Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back. Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten.
11
Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; for he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner.
12
He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind.
13
Keep them to yourself and be careful, for you walk(a) in danger of falling.
14
(b)
15
Every living creature loves its own kind, and every man loves his neighbor.
16
All flesh associates with their own kind. A man will stick to people like himself.
17
What fellowship would the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner to the godly.
18
What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? What peace is there between a rich man and the poor?
19
Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the wilderness; likewise poor men are feeding grounds for the rich.
20
Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; likewise a poor man is an abomination to the rich.
21
When a rich man is shaken, he is supported by his friends, but when the humble is down, he is pushed away even by his friends.
22
When a rich man falls, there are many helpers. He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him. A humble man falls, and men rebuke him. He utters wisdom, and is not listened to.
23
A rich man speaks, and all keep silence. They extol what he says to the clouds. A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this?” If he stumbles, they will help to overthrow him.
24
Riches are good if they have no sin. Poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly.
25
The heart of a man changes his countenance, whether it is for good or for evil.(c)
26
A cheerful countenance is a sign of a prosperous heart. Devising proverbs takes strenuous thinking.

Footnotes

(a)13:13 Gr. along with.
(b)13:14 The remainder of verse 13, and verse 14, are omitted by the best authorities.
(c)13:25 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.