Sirach 12

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 If you do good, know for whom you are doing it, and your kindness will have its effect.	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 man and reward will be yours, if not from him, from the LORD.	2 Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.
3 No good comes to him who gives comfort to the wicked, nor is it an act of mercy that he does.	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 good man, refuse the sinner; refresh the downtrodden, give nothing to the proud man.	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 No arms for combat should you give him, lest he use them against yourself;	5 Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.
6 With twofold evil you will meet for every good deed you do for him.	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 The Most High himself hates sinners, and upon the wicked he takes vengeance.	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 In our prosperity we cannot know our friends; in adversity an enemy will not remain concealed.	8 A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.
9 When a man is successful even his enemy is friendly; in adversity even his friend disappears.	9 By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.
10 Never trust your enemy, for his wickedness is like corrosion in bronze.	10 You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.
11 Even though he acts humbly and peaceably toward you, take care to be on your guard against him. Rub him as one polishes a brazen mirror, and you will find that there is still corrosion.	11 And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.
12 Let him not stand near you, lest he oust you and take your place. Let him not sit at your right hand, lest he then demand your seat, And in the end you appreciate my advice, when you groan with regret, as I warned you.	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 pities a snake charmer when he is bitten, or anyone who goes near a wild beast?	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 So is it with the companion of the proud man, who 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 While you stand firm, he makes no bold move; but if you slip, he cannot hold back.	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 With his lips an enemy speaks sweetly, but in his heart he schemes to plunge you into the abyss. Though your enemy has tears in his eyes, if given the chance, he will never have enough of your blood.	16 An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.
17 If evil comes upon you, you will find him at hand; feigning to help, he will trip you up,	17 And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.
18 Then he will nod his head and clap his hands and hiss repeatedly, and show his true face.	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.