Siracide 12

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris, et erit gratia in bonis tuis multa.	1 If you mean to do a kindness, choose the right person, then your good deeds wil not be wasted.
2 Benefac iusto et invenies retributionem magnam et, si non ab ipso, certe a Domino.	2 Do good to someone devout, and you wil be rewarded, if not by that person, then certainly by the MostHigh.
3 Non est enim ei bene, qui assiduus est in malis et eleemosynas non dat, quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores et misertus est paenitentibus.	3 No good will come to one who persists in evil, or who refuses to give alms.
4 Da misericordi et ne suscipias peccatorem; et impiis et peccatoribus reddet vindictam custodiens eos in diem vindictae.	4 Give to the devout, do not go to the help of a sinner.
5 Da bono et non receperis peccatorem.	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.
6 Benefac humili et non dederis impio; vasa belli ne dederis illi, ne in ipsis potentior te sit.	6 For the Most High himself detests sinners, and wil repay the wicked with what they deserve.
7 Nam duplicia mala invenies in omnibus bonis quaecumque feceris illi, quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores et impiis reddet vindictam.	7 Give to the good, and do not go to the help of a sinner.
8 Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus, et non abscondetur in malis inimicus.	8 In prosperity you cannot always tel a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.
9 In bonis viri etiam inimici illius sunt amici, et in malis etiam amicus discedit.	9 When someone is doing well that person's enemies are sad, when someone is doing badly, even afriend wil keep at a distance.
10 Non credas inimico tuo in aeternum, sicut enim aeramentum aeruginat nequitia illius	10 Do not ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.
11 et, si humiliatus vadat curvus, adice animum tuum et custodi te ab illo et fias ei sicut qui extergit speculum, et cognosces quoniam in finem aeruginavit.	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.
12 Non statuas illum penes te, nec sedeat ad dexteram tuam, ne forte conversus in locum tuum inquirat cathedram tuam; et in novissimo agnoscas verba mea et in sermonibus meis stimuleris.	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.
13 Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso et omnibus, qui appropiant bestiis? Et sic qui comitatur cum viro iniquo et obvolutus est in peccatis eius: non evadet, donec incendat eum ignis.	13 Who feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks with savageanimals? -
14 Una hora tecum permanebit; si autem declinaveris, non supportabit.	14 just so for one who consorts with a sinner, and becomes an accomplice in his sins.
15 In labiis suis indulcat inimicus et in corde suo insidiatur, ut subvertat te in foveam.	15 He wil stay with you for a while, but if you once give way he wil press his advantage.
16 In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus et, si invenerit opportunitatem, non satiabitur sanguine.	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.
17 Si incurrerint tibi mala, invenies eum illic priorem,	17 If you meet with misfortune, you will find him there before you, and, pretending to help you, he wil tripyou up.
18 et quasi adiuvans suffodiet plantas tuas.	18 He wil wag his head and clap his hands, he wil whisper a lot and his expression wil change.
19 Caput suum movebit et plaudet manu et multa susurrans commutabit vultum suum.