Ecclesiasticus, 12

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

1. If you do good, know to whom you are doing it and you will receive thanks for your kindness.

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

2. Do good to the godly man and you will receive a reward, if not from the man himself, at least from the Most High.

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

3. Blessings are not for those who persist in evildoing, nor for those who refuse to show compassion.

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

4. Give to the godly man, do not help the sinner;

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.

5. do good to the humble, do not give to the ungodly; deny him bread, do not give it to him lest he eventually dominate you. He will repay you with a double evil for all the good that you have done for him.

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

6. For the Most High himself detests sinners and carries out his vengeance on the ungodly.

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

7. Give to the good man but do not help the sinner.

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

8. A friend does not become an enemy in the time of prosperity, nor does an enemy remain hidden in the time of adversity.

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

9. When a man is doing well, his enemies are sad; when he is suffering misfortune, even his friends hasten to abandon him.

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

10. Never trust an enemy, for his malice is like bronze covered in rust.

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.

11. Even if he should act as a humble man and walk with head bowed down, watch yourself and be on your guard against him. Behave towards him as a man who polishes a bronze mirror. Know that the rust will not remain until the end.

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. Do not place him near you lest he overthrow you and take your place. Do not make him sit on your right hand lest he covet your seat. Let it not be that in the end you understand my words and regret not having listened to my advice.

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

13. Who will have pity on the snake-charmer bitten by a snake or on those who go near wild beasts?

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

14. It is the same for the man who joins company with a sinner and finds himself involved in his wrongdoing.

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

15. The sinner will remain quietly with you for an hour but when you are distracted he will throw away his mask.

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.

16. The enemy is all sweetness in his speech, but in his heart he is planning to throw you in the ditch. The enemy has tears in his eyes but, if he finds an opportunity, he cannot have enough of your blood.

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

17. If misfortune comes to you, you will find him there before you; pretending to help you, he will be scheming to get rid of you.

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

18. He will wag his head in mockery and clap his hands, he will whisper unceasingly and will show his true face.