Sirach 13

¹ He who touches pitch blackens his hand; he who associates with an impious man learns his ways.

² Bear no burden too heavy for you; go with no one greater or wealthier than yourself. How can the earthen pot go with the metal cauldron? When they knock together, the pot will be smashed:

³ The rich man does wrong and boasts of it, the poor man is wronged and begs forgiveness.

⁴ As long as the rich man can use you he will enslave you, but when you are exhausted, he will abandon you.

⁵ As long as you have anything he will speak fair words to you, and with smiles he will win your confidence;

⁶ When he needs something from you he will cajole you, then without regret he will impoverish you.

⁷ While it serves his purpose he will beguile you, then twice or three times he will terrify you; When later he sees you he will pass you by, and shake his head over you.

⁸ Guard against being presumptuous; be not as those who lack sense.

⁹ When invited by a man of influence, keep your distance; then he will urge you all the more.

¹⁰ Be not bold with him lest you be rebuffed, but keep not too far away lest you be forgotten.

¹¹ Engage not freely in discussion with him, trust not his many words; For by prolonged talk he will test you, and though smiling he will probe you.

¹² Mercilessly he will make of you a laughingstock, and will not refrain from injury or chains.

¹³ Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of violence.

¹⁴ Every living thing loves its own kind, every man a man like himself.

¹⁵ Every being is drawn to its own kind; with his own kind every man associates.

¹⁶ Is a wolf ever allied with a lamb? So it is with the sinner and the just.

¹⁷ Can there be peace between the hyena and the dog? Or between the rich and the poor can there be peace?

¹⁸ Lion's prey are the wild asses of the desert; so too the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.

¹⁹ A proud man abhors lowliness; so does the rich man abhor the poor.

²⁰ When a rich man stumbles he is supported by a friend; when a poor man trips he is pushed down by a friend.

²¹ Many are the supporters for a rich man when he speaks; though what he says is odious, it wins approval. When a poor man speaks they make sport of him; he speaks wisely and no attention is paid him.

²² A rich man speaks and all are silent, his wisdom they extol to the clouds. A poor man speaks and they say: "Who is that?" If he slips they cast him down.

²³ Wealth is good when there is no sin; but poverty is evil by the standards of the proud.

²⁴ The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil.

²⁵ The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance; withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schemer.