Sirach 12

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.	1 If you mean to do a kindness, choose the right person, then your good deeds wil not be wasted.
2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.	2 Do good to someone devout, and you wil be rewarded, if not by that person, then certainly by the MostHigh.
3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.	3 No good will come to one who persists in evil, or who refuses to give alms.
4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.	4 Give to the devout, do not go to the help of a sinner.
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.	5 Do good to the humble, give nothing to the godless. Refuse him bread, do not give him any, it mightmake him stronger than you are; then you would be repaid evil twice over for al the good you had done him.
6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.	6 For the Most High himself detests sinners, and wil repay the wicked with what they deserve.
7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.	7 Give to the good, and do not go to the help of a sinner.
8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.	8 In prosperity you cannot always tel a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.
9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.	9 When someone is doing well that person's enemies are sad, when someone is doing badly, even afriend wil keep at a distance.
10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.	10 Do not ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.
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.	11 Even if he behaves humbly and comes bowing and scraping, maintain your reserve and be on yourguard against him. Behave towards him as if you were polishing a mirror, you will find that his tarnish cannot last.
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.	12 Do not stand him beside you in case he thrusts you out and takes your place. Do not seat him on yourright, or he will be after your position, and then you wil remember what I have said and sadly admit that I wasright.
13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?	13 Who feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks with savageanimals? -
14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?	14 just so for one who consorts with a sinner, and becomes an accomplice in his sins.
15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.	15 He wil stay with you for a while, but if you once give way he wil press his advantage.
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.	16 An enemy may have sweetness on his lips, and in his heart a scheme to throw you into the ditch. Anenemy may have tears in his eyes, but if he gets a chance there can never be too much blood for him.
17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.	17 If you meet with misfortune, you will find him there before you, and, pretending to help you, he wil tripyou up.
18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.	18 He wil wag his head and clap his hands, he wil whisper a lot and his expression wil change.