Sirach 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	LA SACRA BIBBIA
1 Whoever touches pitch will be contaminated by it. And whoever associates with the arrogant will be clothed by arrogance.	1 Chi tocca la pece s'imbratta, chi frequenta l'arrogante lo imita.
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.	2 Non sollevare un peso troppo grande per te, non frequentare chi è più forte e più ricco di te. Perché accostare la brocca con la pentola? Se l'una cozza, l'altra si spezza.
3 What will the cooking pot have in common with the earthen vessel? And when they collide with one another, one will be broken.	3 Il ricco fa l'ingiustizia e poi anche minaccia, il povero subisce l'ingiustizia e chiede perdono.
4 The rich man has suffered no injustice, and yet he fumes. But the poor man, though he has been wounded, will remain silent.	4 Se gli sei utile, ti sfrutta, se hai bisogno, ti abbandona.
5 If you are generous, he will take you up; and when you have nothing, he will cast you aside.	5 Se possiedi, starà con te, e ti spoglierà senza il minimo rimorso.
6 If you possess, he will feast with you, and he will empty you, and he will not grieve over you.	6 Se ha bisogno di te, t'imbroglia, ti sorride, ti dà speranze, chiede gentilmente: "Ti occorre qualcosa?".
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?”	7 Ti farà vergognare con i suoi pranzi, fino a quando non ti spillerà due o tre volte tanto; così alla fine sarà lui a deriderti, dopo, ti vedrà ma ti eviterà, anzi scuoterà la testa su di te.
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.	8 Bada a non farti ingannare, affinché non sia umiliato per la tua leggerezza.
9 Humble yourself before God, and wait for his hands.	9 Se un potente t'invita, fa' resistenza, così insisterà nell'invitarti.
10 Be careful. Otherwise, having been seduced into foolishness, you will be humiliated.	10 Non essere sfacciato per non essere respinto, non stare appartato per non essere dimenticato.
11 Do not choose to be low in your wisdom, otherwise, having been brought low, you will be seduced into foolishness.	11 Non parlargli da pari a pari, non fargli credito se parla molto;
12 If you are invited by someone who is more powerful than you, you should decline. Otherwise, he will invite you all the more.	12 perché spesso parla per provarti e t'indaga anche sorridendo.
13 You cannot be rude to him, lest you be pushed away. And you cannot stray far from him, lest you be forgotten.	13 Egli non ha riguardi per i tuoi segreti, e non ti risparmierà guai e catene.
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.	14 Fai attenzione e sii molto cauto, perché cammini sull'orlo del precipizio.
15 His cruel mind will store up your words; and he will not spare you from affliction, nor from prison.	15 Ogni animale ama il suo simile e ogni uomo il suo prossimo.
16 Be cautious of yourself, and attend diligently to what you are hearing. For you are walking toward your own destruction.	16 Ogni carne è attratta verso la stessa specie, perciò l'uomo aderisce al suo simile.
17 Yet truly, while listening to these things, consider it as if it were a dream, and you will awaken.	17 Forse il lupo coabiterà con l'agnello? Così il peccatore con l'uomo pio.
18 Love God for your entire life, and call upon him for your salvation.	18 C'è pace tra la iena e il cane? E c'è pace tra il ricco e il povero?
19 Every animal loves its own kind; so also every man loves those closest to himself.	19 I leoni nel deserto vanno a caccia di onàgri, così i poveri sono il pascolo dei ricchi.
20 All flesh will join with whatever is similar to itself, and every man will associate with whomever is similar to himself.	20 Per il superbo la povertà è obbrobrio, così per il ricco è obbrobrio il povero.
21 If a wolf would at any time have fellowship with a lamb, so also would a sinner have fellowship with the just.	21 Il ricco che vacilla è sostenuto dagli amici, ma il povero che cade è respinto dagli amici.
22 What fellowship does a holy man have with a dog? Or what portion do the wealthy have with the poor?	22 Il ricco che sbaglia ha molti difensori, se dice sciocchezze lo scusano; sbaglia il povero, lo condannano; parla con senno, non l'ascoltano.
23 In the desert, the wild donkey is the prey of the lion. So also are the poor the pasture of the rich.	23 Parla il ricco e tutti tacciono, innalzano il suo dire fino al cielo; parla il povero e dicono: "Chi è costui?", se inciampa lo spingono a terra.
24 And just as humility is an abomination to the arrogant, so also does the rich man abhor the poor man.	24 Buona è la ricchezza senza il peccato, la povertà è maledetta in bocca all'empio.
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.	25 I sentimenti modificano il volto dell'uomo, sia per il bene sia per il male.
26 When a rich man has been deceived, many will help him recover; he has spoken arrogantly, and yet they justify him.	26 Il viso contento è segno di cuore soddisfatto, ma i proverbi si scoprono con riflessione e fatica.
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.