Ecclesiasticus 13

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 se tollat qui honestiori se communicat, 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 cacabus 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 injuste egit, et fremet : pauper autem læsus tacebit.	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 largitus 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, supplantabit 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 ejus.	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 : ex hoc enim magis te advocabit.	12 Mercilessly he will make of you a laughingstock, and will not refrain from injury or chains.
13 Ne improbus sis, 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 æquo loqui cum illo, nec credas multis verbis illius : ex multa enim loquela tentabit te, et subridens interrogabit te 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, quasi in somnis vide, et vigilabis.	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 salute tua.	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 conjungetur, 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 Si communicabit lupus agno aliquando, sic peccator justo.	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 Quæ communicatio sancto homini ad canem ? aut quæ 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 execratio 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 superbia, et justificaverunt 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, 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 et faciem bonam difficile invenies, et cum labore.