Sirach 12

NEW JERUSALEM	BIBLIA
1 If you mean to do a kindness, choose the right person, then your good deeds wil not be wasted.	1 Si haces el bien, mira a quién lo haces, y por tus beneficios recibirás favor.
2 Do good to someone devout, and you wil be rewarded, if not by that person, then certainly by the MostHigh.	2 Haz bien al piadoso; hallarás recompensa, si no de él, al menos del Altísimo.
3 No good will come to one who persists in evil, or who refuses to give alms.	3 No habrá bienes para el que en mal persiste, ni para quien no agradece la limosna.
4 Give to the devout, do not go to the help of a sinner.	4 Da al hombre piadoso, y del pecador no te cuides.
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.	5 Haz bien al humilde y no des al impío; niégale su pan, no se lo des, para que no llegue con ello a dominarte. Pues un mal duplicado encontrarías por todos los bienes que le hubieres hecho.
6 For the Most High himself detests sinners, and wil repay the wicked with what they deserve.	6 Que también el Altísimo odia a los pecadores, y de los impíos tomará venganza.
7 Give to the good, and do not go to the help of a sinner.	7 Da al hombre de bien, y del pecador no te cuides.
8 In prosperity you cannot always tel a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.	8 No se demuestra en la prosperidad el amigo, ni queda oculto en la adversidad el enemigo.
9 When someone is doing well that person's enemies are sad, when someone is doing badly, even afriend wil keep at a distance.	9 Cuando hay prosperidad, los enemigos se entristecen, mas en la adversidad, hasta el amigo se aleja.
10 Do not ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.	10 No confíes jamás en tu enemigo, que cual bronce roñoso, así es su maldad.
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.	11 Aunque se haga el humilde y camine encorvado, mira por ti mismo y guárdate de él. Pórtate con él como el que pule un espejo, sábete que no retendrá hasta el fin su roña.
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.	12 No le pongas junto a ti, no sea que se te revuelva y suplante tu puesto. No le sientes a tu diestra, no sea que tu asiento pretenda, y que al fin comprendas mis palabras, y te pese al recordar mis consejos.
13 Who feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks with savageanimals? -	13 ¿Quién se compadecerá del encantador mordido de serpiente y de todos los que se acercan a las fieras?
14 just so for one who consorts with a sinner, and becomes an accomplice in his sins.	14 Lo mismo le ocurre al que convive con el pecador y comparte sus pecados.
15 He wil stay with you for a while, but if you once give way he wil press his advantage.	15 Una hora aguantará contigo, mas si te desmandas, no lo soportará.
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.	16 En sus labios pone dulzura el enemigo, mas en su corazón trama arrojarte a la fosa. En sus ojos lagrimea el enemigo, mas si topa ocasión, no se verá harto de tu sangre.
17 If you meet with misfortune, you will find him there before you, and, pretending to help you, he wil tripyou up.	17 Si los males te visitan, primero que tú le encontrarás allí, fingiendo ayurdarte te agarrará el talón.
18 He wil wag his head and clap his hands, he wil whisper a lot and his expression wil change.	18 Meneará su cabeza, batirá palmas, cuchicheará mucho y mudará de cara.