ECCLESIASTICUS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
11:20. And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.
11:21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.
11:22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in thy place,
11:23. For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor man rich.
11:24. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.
11:25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?
11:26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made worse by this?
11:27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:
11:28. For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every one according to his ways.
11:29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.
11:30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children.
11:31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of the deceitful.
11:32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall of his neighbour.
11:33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the elect he will lay a blot.
11:34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.
11:35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.
11:36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 12
We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked.
12:1. If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds.
12:2. Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.
12:3. 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.
12:4. 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.
12:5. Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.
12:6. 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.
12:7. 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.
12:8. A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity.
12:9. In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity.
12:10. Never trust thy enemy for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:
12:11. Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him.
12:12. 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.
12:13. 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.
12:14. For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it.
12:15. An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.
12:16. An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood:
12:17. And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first.
12:18. An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet.
12:19. He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 13
Cautions in the choice of company.