Ecclesiasticus, 12

1. If you mean to do a kindness, choose the right person, then your good deeds will not be wasted.

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

2. Do good to someone devout, and you will be rewarded, if not by that person, then certainly by the Most High.

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

3. No good will come to one who persists in evil, or who refuses to give alms.

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

4. Give to the devout, do not go to the help of a sinner.

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

5. Do good to the humble, give nothing to the godless. Refuse him bread, do not give him any, it might make him stronger than you are; then you would be repaid evil twice over for all the good you had done him.

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.

6. For the Most High himself detests sinners, and will repay the wicked with what they deserve.

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

7. Give to the good, and do not go to the help of a sinner.

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

8. In prosperity you cannot always tell a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.

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

9. When someone is doing well that person's enemies are sad, when someone is doing badly, even a friend will keep at a distance.

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

10. Do not ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.

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

11. Even if he behaves humbly and comes bowing and scraping, maintain your reserve and be on your guard against him. Behave towards him as if you were polishing a mirror, you will find that his tarnish cannot last.

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. Do not stand him beside you in case he thrusts you out and takes your place. Do not seat him on your right, or he will be after your position, and then you will remember what I have said and sadly admit that I was right.

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.

13. Who feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks with savage animals? -

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

14. just so for one who consorts with a sinner, and becomes an accomplice in his sins.

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

15. He will stay with you for a while, but if you once give way he will press his advantage.

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

16. An enemy may have sweetness on his lips, and in his heart a scheme to throw you into the ditch. An enemy may have tears in his eyes, but if he gets a chance there can never be too much blood for him.

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.

17. If you meet with misfortune, you will find him there before you, and, pretending to help you, he will trip you up.

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

18. He will wag his head and clap his hands, he will whisper a lot and his expression will change.

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