Sirach 12

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 If you mean to do a kindness, choose the right person, then your good deeds wil not be wasted.	1 If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your 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 you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from 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 someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant.
4 Give to the devout, do not go to the help of a sinner.	4 Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution.
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, but you should not receive from 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, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it.
7 Give to the good, and do not go to the help of a sinner.	7 For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious.
8 In prosperity you cannot always tel a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.	8 A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will 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 By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.
10 Do not ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.	10 You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.
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 And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from 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 You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon.
13 Who feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks with savageanimals? -	13 Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous 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 one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.
15 He wil stay with you for a while, but if you once give way he wil press his advantage.	15 An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you 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 has tears in his eyes. But if he finds 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 misfortunes happen upon you, you will 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 has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.
	19 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.