Sirach 13

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 He who touches pitch blackens his hand; he who associates with an impious man learns his ways.	1 He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.
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:	2 He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one more honourable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is richer than thyself.
3 The rich man does wrong and boasts of it, the poor man is wronged and begs forgiveness.	3 What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken.
4 As long as the rich man can use you he will enslave you, but when you are exhausted, he will abandon you.	4 The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace.
5 As long as you have anything he will speak fair words to you, and with smiles he will win your confidence;	5 If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.
6 When he needs something from you he will cajole you, then without regret he will impoverish you.	6 If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee.
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.	7 If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What wantest thou?
8 Guard against being presumptuous; be not as those who lack sense.	8 And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
9 When invited by a man of influence, keep your distance; then he will urge you all the more.	9 Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands.
10 Be not bold with him lest you be rebuffed, but keep not too far away lest you be forgotten.	10 Beware that thou be not deceived Into folly, and be humbled.
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.	11 Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived into folly.
12 Mercilessly he will make of you a laughingstock, and will not refrain from injury or chains.	12 If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw thyself: for so he will invite thee the more.
13 Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of violence.	13 Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not far from him, lest thou be forgotten.
14 Every living thing loves its own kind, every man a man like himself.	14 Affect not to speak with him as an equal: and believe not his many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will examine thee concerning thy secrets.
15 Every being is drawn to its own kind; with his own kind every man associates.	15 His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison.
16 Is a wolf ever allied with a lamb? So it is with the sinner and the just.	16 Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin.
17 Can there be peace between the hyena and the dog? Or between the rich and the poor can there be peace?	17 When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep, and thou shalt awake.
18 Lion's prey are the wild asses of the desert; so too the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.	18 Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.
19 A proud man abhors lowliness; so does the rich man abhor the poor.	19 Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is nearest to himself.
20 When a rich man stumbles he is supported by a friend; when a poor man trips he is pushed down by a friend.	20 All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man shall associate himself to his like.
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.	21 If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so the sinner with the just.
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.	22 What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath the rich with the poor?
23 Wealth is good when there is no sin; but poverty is evil by the standards of the proud.	23 The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor are devoured by the rich.
24 The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil.	24 And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich man abhorreth the poor.
25 The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance; withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schemer.	25 When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance.
	26 When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him.
	27 The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath spoken wisely, and could have no place.
	28 The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said they extol even to the clouds.
	29 The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he stumble, they will overthrow him.
	30 Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.
	31 The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good, or for evil.
	32 The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt hardly find, and with labour.