Sirach 12

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 If you mean to do a kindness, choose the right person, then your good deeds wil not be wasted.	1 If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds.
2 Do good to someone devout, and you wil be rewarded, if not by that person, then certainly by the MostHigh.	2 Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.
3 No good will come to one who persists in evil, or who refuses to give alms.	3 For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.
4 Give to the devout, do not go to the help of a sinner.	4 Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance.
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 Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.
6 For the Most High himself detests sinners, and wil repay the wicked with what they deserve.	6 Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee.
7 Give to the good, and do not go to the help of a sinner.	7 For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.
8 In prosperity you cannot always tel a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.	8 A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity.
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 In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity.
10 Do not ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.	10 Never trust thy enemy: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:
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 ,11Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him.
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 Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat: and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings.
13 Who feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks with savageanimals? -	13 Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins.
14 just so for one who consorts with a sinner, and becomes an accomplice in his sins.	14 For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it.
15 He wil stay with you for a while, but if you once give way he wil press his advantage.	15 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.
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 An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood:
17 If you meet with misfortune, you will find him there before you, and, pretending to help you, he wil tripyou up.	17 And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first.
18 He wil wag his head and clap his hands, he wil whisper a lot and his expression wil change.	18 An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet.
	19 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.