Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

12:1 When thou wilt doe good, know to who thou doest it, so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefites.

12:1 When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.

12:2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence, and if not from him, yet from the most high.

12:2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.

12:3 There can no good come to him that is alwayes occupied in euill: nor to him that giueth no almes.

12:3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.

12:4 Giue to the godly man, and helpe not a sinner.

12:4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.

12:5 Doe well vnto him that is lowly, but giue not to the vngodly: hold backe thy bread, and giue it not vnto him, lest he ouermaster thee thereby. For [else] thou shalt receiue twice as much euill, for all the good thou shalt haue done vnto him.

12:5 Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby: for [else] thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.

12:6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance vnto the vngodly, and keepeth them against the mightie day of their punishment.

12:6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

12:7 Giue vnto the good, and helpe not the sinner.

12:7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.

12:8 A friend cannot be knowen in prosperitie, and an enemy cannot be hidden in aduersitie.

12:8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

12:9 In the prosperitie of a man, enemies will be grieued, but in his aduersitie, euen a friend will depart.

12:9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.

12:10 Neuer trust thine enemie: for like as yron rusteth, so is his wickednesse.

12:10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.

12:11 Though he humble himselfe, and goe crouching, yet take good heed, and beware of him, and thou shalt bee vnto him, as if thou hadst wiped a looking glasse, and thou shalt knowe that his rust hath not beene altogether wiped away.

12:11 Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away.

12:12 Set him not by thee, lest when he hath ouerthrowen thee, he stand vp in thy place, neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seeke to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my wordes, and be pricked therewith.

12:12 Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he stand up in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked therewith.

12:13 Who will pitie a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wilde beasts?

12:13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

12:14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sinnes, who will pitie?

12:14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?

12:15 For a while hee will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he wil not tarie.

12:15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.

12:16 An enemie speaketh sweetly with his lippes, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: hee will weepe with his eyes, but if he find opportunitie, hee will not be satisfied with blood.

12:16 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

12:17 If aduersitie come vpon thee, thou shalt find him there first, & though he pretend to helpe thee, yet shal he vndermine thee.

12:17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.

12:18 He will shake his head and clap his handes, and whisper much, and change his countenance.

12:18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.