Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.
[27] The affliction of an hour maketh a
man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.
[28] Judge none blessed before his
death: for a man shall be known in his children.
[29] Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful
man hath many trains.
[30] Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and
like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:
[31] For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things
worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.
[32] Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man
layeth wait for blood.
[33] Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring
upon thee a perpetual blot.
[34] Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn
thee out of thine own.
Sir.12
[1] When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.
[2] Do
good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.
[3]
There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.
[4] Give
to the godly man, and help not a sinner.
[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] For the most High hateth sinners,
and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.
[7]
Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.
[8] A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy
cannot be hidden in adversity.
[9] In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity
even a friend will depart.
[10] Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.
[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] 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] Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh
wild beasts?
[14] So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?
[15] For
a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.
[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] If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find
him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.
[18] He will shake his
head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.
Sir.13
[1] He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall
be like unto him.
[2] Burden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and have no fellowship with
one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together? for
if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.
[3] The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he
threateneth withal: the poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.
[4] If thou be for his profit, he will use
thee: but if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.
[5] If thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea,
he will make thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.
[6] If he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and
smile upon thee, and put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and say, What wantest thou?
[7] And he
will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh
thee to scorn afterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
[8] Beware
that thou be not deceived and brought down in thy jollity.
[9] If thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw
thyself, and so much the more will he invite thee.
[10] Press thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand
not far off, lest thou be forgotten.
[11] Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and believe not his
many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets:
[12]
But cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.
[13]
Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy overthrowing: when thou hearest these
things, awake in thy sleep.
[14] Love the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.
[15] Every
beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbor.
[16] All flesh consorteth according to kind, and