Ecclesiasticus, 12

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

1. The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head, and will seat him among the great.

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

2. Do not praise a man for his good looks, nor loathe a man because of his appearance.

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

3. The bee is small among flying creatures, but her product is the best of sweet things.

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

4. Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, nor exalt yourself in the day that you are honored; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works are concealed from men.

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. Many kings have had to sit on the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.

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

6. Many rulers have been greatly disgraced, and illustrious men have been handed over to others.

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

7. Do not find fault before you investigate; first consider, and then reprove.

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

8. Do not answer before you have heard, nor interrupt a speaker in the midst of his words.

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. Do not argue about a matter which does not concern you, nor sit with sinners when they judge a case.

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

10. My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished, and if you pursue you will not overtake, and by fleeing you will not escape.

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. There is a man who works, and toils, and presses on, but is so much the more in want.

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. There is another who is slow and needs help, who lacks strength and abounds in poverty; but the eyes of the Lord look upon him for his good; he lifts him out of his low estate

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

13. and raises up his head, so that many are amazed at him.

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

14. Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.

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

15.

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.

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

17. The gift of the Lord endures for those who are godly, and what he approves will have lasting success.

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

18. There is a man who is rich through his diligence and self-denial, and this is the reward allotted to him:

19.

19. when he says, "I have found rest, and now I shall enjoy my goods!" he does not know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies.

20.

20. Stand by your covenant and attend to it, and grow old in your work.

21.

21. Do not wonder at the works of a sinner, but trust in the Lord and keep at your toil; for it is easy in the sight of the Lord to enrich a poor man quickly and suddenly.

22.

22. The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the godly, and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.

23.

23. Do not say, "What do I need, and what prosperity could be mine in the future?"

24.

24. Do not say, "I have enough, and what calamity could happen to me in the future?"

25.

25. In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.

26.

26. For it is easy in the sight of the Lord to reward a man on the day of death according to his conduct.

27.

27. The misery of an hour makes one forget luxury, and at the close of a man's life his deeds will be revealed.

28.

28. Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his children.

29.

29. Do not bring every man into your home, for many are the wiles of the crafty.

30.

30. Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of a proud man, and like a spy he observes your weakness;

31.

31. for he lies in wait, turning good into evil, and to worthy actions he will attach blame.

32.

32. From a spark of fire come many burning coals, and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.

33.

33. Beware of a scoundrel, for he devises evil, lest he give you a lasting blemish.

34.

34. Receive a stranger into your home and he will upset you with commotion, and will estrange you from your family.