Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) Chapter 12

1 Si ?? benefeceris ?? , scito ?? cui ?? feceris ?? , et ?? erit ?? gratia ?? in ?? bonis ?? tuis ?? multa ?? . If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds.

2 Benefac ?? justo ?? , et ?? invenies ?? retributionem ?? magnam ?? : et ?? si ?? non ?? ab ?? ipso ?? , certe ?? a ?? Domino ?? . Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.

3 Non ?? est ?? enim ?? ei ?? bene ?? qui ?? assiduus ?? est ?? in ?? malis ?? , et ?? eleemosynas ?? non ?? danti ?? : quoniam ?? et ?? Altissimus ?? odio ?? habet ?? peccatores ?? , et ?? misertus ?? est ?? pœnitentibus ?? . For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.

4 Da ?? misericordi ?? , et ?? ne ?? suscipias ?? peccatorem ?? : et ?? impiis ?? et ?? peccatoribus ?? reddet ?? vindictam ?? , custodiens ?? eos ?? in ?? diem ?? vindictæ ?? . Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance.

5 Da ?? bono ?? , et ?? non ?? receperis ?? peccatorem ?? . Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.

6 Benefac ?? humili ?? , et ?? non ?? dederis ?? impio ?? : prohibe ?? panes ?? illi ?? dari ?? , ne ?? in ?? ipsis ?? potentior ?? te ?? sit ?? : Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee.

7 nam ?? duplicia ?? mala ?? invenies ?? in ?? omnibus ?? bonis ?? quæcumque ?? feceris ?? illi ?? , quoniam ?? et ?? Altissimus ?? odio ?? habet ?? peccatores ?? , et ?? impiis ?? reddet ?? vindictam ?? . For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.

8 Non ?? agnoscetur ?? in ?? bonis ?? amicus ?? , et ?? non ?? abscondetur ?? in ?? malis ?? inimicus ?? . A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity.

9 In ?? bonis ?? viri ?? , inimici ?? illius ?? in ?? tristitia ?? : et ?? in ?? malitia ?? illius ?? , amicus ?? agnitus ?? est ?? . In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity.

10 Non ?? credas ?? inimico ?? tuo ?? in ?? æternum ?? : sicut ?? enim ?? æramentum ?? æruginat ?? nequitia ?? illius ?? : Never trust thy enemy: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:

11 et ?? si ?? humiliatus ?? vadat ?? curvus ?? , adjice ?? animum ?? tuum ?? , et ?? custodi ?? te ?? ab ?? illo ?? . Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him.

12 Non ?? statuas ?? illum ?? penes ?? te ?? , nec ?? sedeat ?? ad ?? dexteram ?? tuam ?? , ne ?? forte ?? conversus ?? in ?? locum ?? tuum ?? , inquirat ?? cathedram ?? tuam ?? , et ?? in ?? novissimo ?? agnosces ?? verba ?? mea ?? , et ?? in ?? sermonibus ?? meis ?? stimuleris ?? . Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat: and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings.

13 Quis ?? miserebitur ?? incantatori ?? a ?? serpente ?? percusso ?? , et ?? omnibus ?? qui ?? appropiant ?? bestiis ?? ? et ?? sic ?? qui ?? comitatur ?? cum ?? viro ?? iniquo ?? , et ?? obvolutus ?? est ?? in ?? peccatis ?? ejus ?? . Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins.

14 Una ?? hora ?? tecum ?? permanebit ?? : si ?? autem ?? declinaveris ?? , non ?? supportabit ?? . For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it.

15 In ?? labiis ?? suis ?? indulcat ?? inimicus ?? , et ?? in ?? corde ?? suo ?? insidiatur ?? ut ?? subvertat ?? te ?? in ?? foveam ?? . An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.

16 In ?? oculis ?? suis ?? lacrimatur ?? inimicus ?? , et ?? si ?? invenerit ?? tempus ?? , non ?? satiabitur ?? sanguine ?? . An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood:

17 Et ?? si ?? incurrerint ?? tibi ?? mala ?? , invenies ?? eum ?? illic ?? priorem ?? . And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first.

18 In ?? oculis ?? suis ?? lacrimatur ?? inimicus ?? , et ?? quasi ?? adjuvans ?? suffodiet ?? plantas ?? tuas ?? . An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet.

19 Caput ?? suum ?? movebit ?? , et ?? plaudet ?? manu ?? , et ?? multa ?? susurrans ?? commutabit ?? vultum ?? suum ?? . He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.