Ecclesiasticus 12

¹If thou wilt do good, know to whom thou doest it, and there shall be much thank in thy good deeds.

²Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great reward: and if not of him, assuredly of our Lord.

³For it is not well with him, that is ever occupied in evil things, and that giveth not alms: because the Highest both hateth sinners, and hath mercy on them that are penitent.

⁴Give to the merciful, and receive not the sinner: both to the impious & to sinners he will repay vengeance, keeping them unto the day of vengeance.

⁵Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.

⁶Do good to the humble, and give not to the impious: prohibit to give him bread, lest therein he be mightier than thou:

⁷for thou shalt find double evils in all the good, whatsoever thou shalt do to him: because the Highest hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the impious.

⁸A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hid in adversity.

⁹In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are in sorrow, and in affliction a friend is known.

¹⁰Credit not thine enemy for ever: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:

¹¹and if humbling himself he go crouching, be advised in thy mind, and beware of him.

¹²Place him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest perhaps turning into thy place, he seek after thy seat: and at the last thou know my words, and be pricked in my sayings.

¹³Who will have pity upon the enchanter striking of a serpent, or of any that come near to beasts? So also he that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is wrapped in his sins.

¹⁴For one hour he will tarry with thee: but if thou decline, he will not abide it.

¹⁵In his lips the enemy speaketh sweetly, and in his heart he lieth in wait, that he may overthrow thee into the pit.

¹⁶In his eyes the enemy weepeth: and if he may find a time, he will not be satisfied with blood:

¹⁷and if evils happen to thee, thou shalt find him there first.

¹⁸In his eyes the enemy weepeth, and as it were helping thee, he will undermine thy feet.

¹⁹He will shake his head, and clap his hand, and whispering many things he will change his countenance.