1 If you do good, know to whom you do it, and your good deeds will have thanks. (WEB) 2 Do good to a godly man, and you will find a reward— if not from him, then from the Most High. (WEB) 3 No good will come to him who continues to do evil, nor to him who gives no alms. (WEB) 4 Give to the godly man, and don’t help the sinner. (WEB) 5 Do good to one who is lowly. Don’t give to an ungodly man. Keep back his bread, and don’t give it to him, lest he subdue you with it; for you would receive twice as much evil for all the good you would have done to him. (WEB) 6 For the Most High also hates sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly. (WEB) 7 Give to the good man, and don’t help the sinner. (WEB) 8 A man’s friend won’t be fully tried in prosperity. His enemy won’t be hidden in adversity. (WEB) 9 In a man’s prosperity, his enemies are grieved. In his adversity, even his friend leaves. (WEB) 10 Never trust your enemy, for his wickedness is like corrosion in copper. (WEB) 11 Though he humbles himself and walks bowed down, still be careful and beware of him. You will be to him as one who has wiped a mirror, to be sure it doesn’t completely tarnish. (WEB) 12 Don’t set him next to you, lest he overthrow you and stand in your place. Don’t let him sit on your right hand, lest he seek to take your seat, and at the last you acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings. (WEB) 13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten by a snake, or any who come near wild beasts? (WEB) 14 Even so, who will pity him who goes to a sinner, and is associated with him in his sins? (WEB) 15 For a while he will stay with you, and if you falter, he will not stay. (WEB) 16 The enemy will speak sweetly with his lips, and in his heart plan to throw you into a pit. The enemy may weep with his eyes, but if he finds opportunity, he will want more blood. (WEB) 17 If adversity meets you, you will find him there before you. Pretending to help you, he will trip you. (WEB) 18 He will shake his head, clap his hands, whisper much, and change his countenance. (WEB)
Sirach 12:1–18
Semantically similar passages
2 Enoch 51:2–4
2 Hide not your silver in the earth. (2EN) 3 Help the faithful man in affliction, and affliction will not find you in the time of your trouble. (2EN) 4 And every grievous and cruel yoke that come upon you bear all for the sake of the Lord, and thus you will find your reward in t… (2EN)
Sirach 38:20–22
20 Don’t give your heart to sorrow. Put it away, remembering the end. (WEB) 21 Don’t forget it, for there is no returning again. You do him no good, and you would harm yourself. (WEB) 22 Remember his end, for so also will yours be: yesterday for him, and today for you. (WEB)
Sirach 11:30–32
30 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man. Like a spy, he looks for your weakness. (WEB) 31 For he lies in wait to turn things that are good into evil, and assigns blame in things that are praiseworthy. (WEB) 32 From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals i… (WEB)
Sirach 9:10–12
10 Don’t forsake an old friend; for a new one is not comparable to him. A new friend is like new wine: if it becomes old, you will drink it with gladness. (WEB) 11 Don’t envy the success of a sinner; for you don’t know what his end will be. (WEB) 12 Don’t delight in the delights of… (WEB)
Sirach 8:9–11
9 Don’t miss the discourse of the aged, for they also learned from their parents, because from them you will learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need. (WEB) 10 Don’t kindle the coals of a sinner, lest you be burned with the flame of his fire. (WEB) 11 Don’t rise… (WEB)
Sirach 6:11–13
11 In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants. (WEB) 12 If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face. (WEB) 13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends. (WEB)
Sirach 6:1–2
1 Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue. (WEB) 2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull. (WEB)
Sirach 37:3–5
3 O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit? (WEB) 4 There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him. (WEB) 5 There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet… (WEB)
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