Siracide 13

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Qui tetigerit picem, inquinabitur ab ea; et, qui communicaverit superbo, induet superbiam.	1 He who touches pitch blackens his hand; he who associates with an impious man learns his ways.
2 Pondus super te ne tollas et honestiori et ditiori te ne socius fueris.	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:
3 Quid communicabit caccabus ad ollam? Quando enim se colliserint, confringetur.	3 The rich man does wrong and boasts of it, the poor man is wronged and begs forgiveness.
4 Dives iniuste egit et fremet, pauper autem laesus, ipse supplicabit.	4 As long as the rich man can use you he will enslave you, but when you are exhausted, he will abandon you.
5 Si utilis fueris, assumet te et, si non habueris, derelinquet te.	5 As long as you have anything he will speak fair words to you, and with smiles he will win your confidence;
6 Si habes, convivet tecum et evacuabit te et ipse non dolebit super te.	6 When he needs something from you he will cajole you, then without regret he will impoverish you.
7 Si necessarius illi fueris, ludet te et subridens spem dabit narrans tibi bona et dicet: “ Quid opus est tibi? ”.	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.
8 Et confundet te in cibis suis, donec te exinaniat bis et ter et in novissimo deridebit te; et postea videns derelinquet te et caput suum movebit ad te.	8 Guard against being presumptuous; be not as those who lack sense.
9 Humiliare Deo et exspecta manus eius.	9 When invited by a man of influence, keep your distance; then he will urge you all the more.
10 Attende, ne seductus in stultitiam humilieris.	10 Be not bold with him lest you be rebuffed, but keep not too far away lest you be forgotten.
11 Noli esse humilis in sapientia tua, ne humiliatus in stultitiam seducaris.	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.
12 Advocatus a potentiore discede, et eo magis te advocabit.	12 Mercilessly he will make of you a laughingstock, and will not refrain from injury or chains.
13 Ne accedas, ne impingaris; et ne longe sis ab eo, ne eas in oblivionem.	13 Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of violence.
14 Ne retineas ex aequo loqui cum illo nec credas multis verbis illius; ex multa enim loquela tentabit te et subridens inquiret de absconditis tuis.	14 Every living thing loves its own kind, every man a man like himself.
15 Immitis animus illius conservabit verba tua et non parcet de malitia et de vinculis.	15 Every being is drawn to its own kind; with his own kind every man associates.
16 Cave tibi et attende diligenter auditui tuo, quoniam cum subversione tua ambulas.	16 Is a wolf ever allied with a lamb? So it is with the sinner and the just.
17 Audiens vero illa ex somno evigila.	17 Can there be peace between the hyena and the dog? Or between the rich and the poor can there be peace?
18 Omni vita tua dilige Deum et invoca illum in salutem tuam.	18 Lion's prey are the wild asses of the desert; so too the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.
19 Omne animal diligit simile sibi: sic et omnis homo proximum sibi.	19 A proud man abhors lowliness; so does the rich man abhor the poor.
20 Omnis caro ad similem sibi coniungetur, et omnis homo simili sui sociabitur.	20 When a rich man stumbles he is supported by a friend; when a poor man trips he is pushed down by a friend.
21 Quid communicabit lupus agno? Sic peccator iusto.	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.
22 Quae pax hyaenae ad canem? Aut quae pars diviti ad pauperem?	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.
23 Venatio leonis onager in eremo, sic et pascua divitum sunt pauperes.	23 Wealth is good when there is no sin; but poverty is evil by the standards of the proud.
24 Et sicut abominatio est superbo humilitas, sic et exsecratio divitis pauper.	24 The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil.
25 Dives commotus confirmatur ab amicis suis, humilis autem, cum ceciderit, expelletur et a notis.	25 The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance; withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schemer.
26 Diviti decepto multi recuperatores: locutus est nefaria, et iustificaverunt illum;
27 humilis deceptus est, insuper et arguitur: locutus est sensate, et non est datus ei locus.
28 Dives locutus est, et omnes tacuerunt, et verbum illius usque ad nubes perducent;
29 pauper locutus est, et dicunt: “ Quis est hic? ” et, si offenderit, insuper subvertent illum.
30 Bona est substantia, cui non est peccatum in conscientia, et nequissima paupertas in ore impii.
31 Cor hominis immutat faciem illius sive in bona sive in mala.
32 Vestigium cordis boni facies hilaris: difficile invenies et cum labore.