Liber Ecclesiasticus, 13

1. Qui tetigerit picem, inquinabitur ab ea; et, qui communicaverit superbo, induet superbiam.

1. If you do a kindness, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.

2. Pondus super te ne tollas et honestiori et ditiori te ne socius fueris.

2. Do good to a godly man, and you will be repaid -- if not by him, certainly by the Most High.

3. Quid communicabit caccabus ad ollam? Quando enim se colliserint, confringetur.

3. No good will come to the man who persists in evil or to him who does not give alms.

4. Dives iniuste egit et fremet, pauper autem laesus, ipse supplicabit.

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

5. Si utilis fueris, assumet te et, si non habueris, derelinquet te.

5. Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly; hold back his bread, and do not give it to him, lest by means of it he subdue you; for you will receive twice as much evil for all the good which you do to him.

6. Si habes, convivet tecum et evacuabit te et ipse non dolebit super te.

6. For the Most High also hates sinners and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.

7. Si necessarius illi fueris, ludet te et subridens spem dabit narrans tibi bona et dicet: “Quid opus est tibi?”.

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

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. A friend will not be known in prosperity, nor will an enemy be hidden in adversity.

9. Humiliare Deo et exspecta manus eius.

9. A man's enemies are grieved when he prospers, and in his adversity even his friend will separate from him.

10. Attende, ne seductus in stultitiam humilieris.

10. Never trust your enemy, for like the rusting of copper, so is his wickedness.

11. Noli esse humilis in sapientia tua, ne humiliatus in stultitiam seducaris.

11. Even if he humbles himself and goes about cringing, watch yourself, and be on your guard against him; and you will be to him like one who has polished a mirror, and you will know that it was not hopelessly tarnished.

12. Advocatus a potentiore discede, et eo magis te advocabit.

12. Do not put him next to you, lest he overthrow you and take your place; do not have him sit at your right, lest he try to take your seat of honor, and at last you will realize the truth of my words, and be stung by what I have said.

13. Ne accedas, ne impingaris; et ne longe sis ab eo, ne eas in oblivionem.

13. Who will pity a snake charmer bitten by a serpent, or any who go near wild beasts?

14. Ne retineas ex aequo loqui cum illo nec credas multis verbis illius; ex multa enim loquela tentabit te et subridens inquiret de absconditis tuis.

14. So no one will pity a man who associates with a sinner and becomes involved in his sins.

15. Immitis animus illius conservabit verba tua et non parcet de malitia et de vinculis.

15. He will stay with you for a time, but if you falter, he will not stand by you.

16. Cave tibi et attende diligenter auditui tuo, quoniam cum subversione tua ambulas.

16. An enemy will speak sweetly with his lips, but in his mind he will plan to throw you into a pit; an enemy will weep with his eyes, but if he finds an opportunity his thirst for blood will be insatiable.

17. Audiens vero illa ex somno evigila.

17. If calamity befalls you, you will find him there ahead of you; and while pretending to help you, he will trip you by the heel;

18. Omni vita tua dilige Deum et invoca illum in salutem tuam.

18. he will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.

19. Omne animal diligit simile sibi: sic et omnis homo proximum sibi.

19.

20. Omnis caro ad similem sibi coniungetur, et omnis homo simili sui sociabitur.

20.

21. Quid communicabit lupus agno? Sic peccator iusto.

21.

22. Quae pax hyaenae ad canem? Aut quae pars diviti ad pauperem?

22.

23. Venatio leonis onager in eremo, sic et pascua divitum sunt pauperes.

23.

24. Et sicut abominatio est superbo humilitas, sic et exsecratio divitis pauper.

24.

25. Dives commotus confirmatur ab amicis suis, humilis autem, cum ceciderit, expelletur et a notis.

25.

26. Diviti decepto multi recuperatores: locutus est nefaria, et iustificaverunt illum;

26.

27. humilis deceptus est, insuper et arguitur: locutus est sensate, et non est datus ei locus.

27.

28. Dives locutus est, et omnes tacuerunt, et verbum illius usque ad nubes perducent;

28.

29. pauper locutus est, et dicunt: “Quis est hic?” et, si offenderit, insuper subvertent illum.

29.

30. Bona est substantia, cui non est peccatum in conscientia, et nequissima paupertas in ore impii.

30.

31. Cor hominis immutat faciem illius sive in bona sive in mala.

31.

32. Vestigium cordis boni facies hilaris: difficile invenies et cum labore.

32.