Sirach 13

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 He who touches pitch blackens his hand; he who associates with an impious man learns his ways.	1 Whoever touches pitch will be contaminated by it. And whoever associates with the arrogant will be clothed by arrogance.
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 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 The rich man does wrong and boasts of it, the poor man is wronged and begs forgiveness.	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 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 has suffered no injustice, and yet he fumes. But the poor man, though he has been wounded, will remain silent.
5 As long as you have anything he will speak fair words to you, and with smiles he will win your confidence;	5 If you are generous, he will take you up; and when you have nothing, he will cast you aside.
6 When he needs something from you he will cajole you, then without regret he will impoverish you.	6 If you possess, he will feast with you, and he will empty you, and he will not grieve over 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.	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 Guard against being presumptuous; be not as those who lack sense.	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 When invited by a man of influence, keep your distance; then he will urge you all the more.	9 Humble yourself before 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 Be careful. Otherwise, having been seduced into foolishness, you will be humiliated.
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 Do not choose to be low in your wisdom, otherwise, having been brought low, you will be seduced into foolishness.
12 Mercilessly he will make of you a laughingstock, and will not refrain from injury or chains.	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 Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of violence.	13 You cannot be rude to him, lest you be pushed away. And you cannot stray far from him, lest you be forgotten.
14 Every living thing loves its own kind, every man a man like himself.	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 Every being is drawn to its own kind; with his own kind every man associates.	15 His cruel mind will store up your words; and he will not spare you from affliction, nor from prison.
16 Is a wolf ever allied with a lamb? So it is with the sinner and the just.	16 Be cautious of yourself, and attend diligently to what you are hearing. For you are walking toward your own destruction.
17 Can there be peace between the hyena and the dog? Or between the rich and the poor can there be peace?	17 Yet truly, while listening to these things, consider it as if it were a dream, and you will awaken.
18 Lion's prey are the wild asses of the desert; so too the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.	18 Love God for your entire life, and call upon him for your salvation.
19 A proud man abhors lowliness; so does the rich man abhor the poor.	19 Every animal loves its own kind; so also every man loves those closest 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 will join with whatever is similar to itself, and every man will associate with whomever is similar to himself.
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 a wolf would at any time have fellowship with a lamb, so also would a sinner have fellowship 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 does a holy man have with a dog? Or what portion do the wealthy have with the poor?
23 Wealth is good when there is no sin; but poverty is evil by the standards of the proud.	23 In the desert, the wild donkey is the prey of the lion. So also are the poor the pasture of the rich.
24 The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil.	24 And just as humility is an abomination to the arrogant, so also does the rich man abhor the poor man.
25 The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance; withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schemer.	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.