Eclesiástico, 12

1. Si haces el bien, mira a quién lo haces, y por tus beneficios recibirás favor.

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

2. Haz bien al piadoso; hallarás recompensa, si no de él, al menos del Altísimo.

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 habrá bienes para el que en mal persiste, ni para quien no agradece la limosna.

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

4. Da al hombre piadoso, y del pecador no te cuides.

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

5. Haz bien al humilde y no des al impío; niégale su pan, no se lo des, para que no llegue con ello a dominarte. Pues un mal duplicado encontrarías por todos los bienes que le hubieres hecho.

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. Que también el Altísimo odia a los pecadores, y de los impíos tomará venganza.

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. Da al hombre de bien, y del pecador no te cuides.

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

8. No se demuestra en la prosperidad el amigo, ni queda oculto en la adversidad el enemigo.

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

9. Cuando hay prosperidad, los enemigos se entristecen, mas en la adversidad, hasta el amigo se aleja.

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

10. No confíes jamás en tu enemigo, que cual bronce roñoso, así es su maldad.

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

11. Aunque se haga el humilde y camine encorvado, mira por ti mismo y guárdate de él. Pórtate con él como el que pule un espejo, sábete que no retendrá hasta el fin su roña.

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. No le pongas junto a ti, no sea que se te revuelva y suplante tu puesto. No le sientes a tu diestra, no sea que tu asiento pretenda, y que al fin comprendas mis palabras, y te pese al recordar mis consejos.

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. ¿Quién se compadecerá del encantador mordido de serpiente y de todos los que se acercan a las fieras?

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

14. Lo mismo le ocurre al que convive con el pecador y comparte sus pecados.

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

15. Una hora aguantará contigo, mas si te desmandas, no lo soportará.

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

16. En sus labios pone dulzura el enemigo, mas en su corazón trama arrojarte a la fosa. En sus ojos lagrimea el enemigo, mas si topa ocasión, no se verá harto de tu sangre.

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. Si los males te visitan, primero que tú le encontrarás allí, fingiendo ayurdarte te agarrará el talón.

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. Meneará su cabeza, batirá palmas, cuchicheará mucho y mudará de cara.

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