Sirach 12 - Good News Translation (GNT)

12 (A)When you do a good deed, make sure you know who is benefiting from it; then what you do will not be wasted.[a] 2 You will be repaid for any kindness you show to a devout person. If he doesn't repay you, the Most High will. 3 No good ever comes to a person who gives comfort to the wicked; it is not a righteous act.[b] 4 Give to religious people, but don't help sinners. 5 Do good to humble people, but don't give anything to those who are not devout. Don't give them food, or they will use your kindness against you. Every good thing you do for such people will bring you twice as much trouble in return. 6 The Most High himself hates sinners, and he will punish them. 7 Give to good people, but do not help sinners.

8 When things are going well, it is hard to tell who your real friends are, but in hard times you can recognize your enemies; 9 even your friends will leave you then. But when you are successful, your enemies will act like friends.[c] 10 Never trust an enemy; his wickedness is as destructive as rust. 11 Watch out, and be on guard against him, even if he acts ever so humble. He is like a metal mirror that rusts away if you don't keep it polished. 12 Seat an enemy at your right hand, and the next thing you know he'll be trying to get your own place of honor. Put him next to you, and he will overthrow you. Then you will realize the truth of my words, and be stung with regret when you remember them. 13 Nobody feels sorry for snake charmers or wild animal tamers who get bitten, 14 and nobody will feel sorry for you if you run around with sinners and get involved in their wrongdoing.

15 An enemy will stay with you for a while, but not when trouble comes. 16 He will speak fine words while he plots how to trap you. He will pretend to share your sorrows, but he will kill you if he gets a chance. 17 If trouble comes your way, you will find him waiting, ready to trip you up while he pretends to help you. 18 He will be a different person then, rubbing his hands, nodding his head, and spreading rumors about you.

Footnotes

  1. Sirach 12:1 what you do...wasted; or you will be thanked for what you do.
  2. Sirach 12:3 Hebrew gives...act; Greek makes evil a habit or refuses to give to the poor.
  3. Sirach 12:9 Hebrew act like friends; Greek be sorry.

Cross references

  1. Sirach 12:1 : Matt 7:6

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Sirach 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 If thou doest well, know thou to whom thou doest (it); and much grace shall be to thy goods (or for thy good doings). [If thou shalt well do, know thou to whom thou shalt well do; and there shall be much grace in thy goods.] 2 Do thou well to a just man, and thou shalt find great yielding; though...
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Sirach 12 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

12 If you do a kindness, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.2 Do good to a godly man, and you will be repaid— if not by him, certainly by the Most High.3 No good will come to the man who persists in evil or to him who does not give alms.4 Give to the godly man, but d...
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Sirach 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

12 If you do a kindness, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.2 Do good to a godly man, and you will be repaid— if not by him, certainly by the Most High.3 No good will come to the man who persists in evil or to him who does not give alms.4 Give to the godly man, but d...
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Sirach 12 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

12 If you do good, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.2 Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid— if not by them, certainly by the Most High.3 No good comes to one who persists in evil or to one who does not give alms.4 Give to the devout, but do not help the si...
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Sirach 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

12 If you do good, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.(A)2 Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid— if not by them, certainly by the Most High.(B)3 No good comes to one who persists in evil or to one who does not give alms.(C)4 Give to the devout, but do not he...
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Sirach 12 - Good News Translation (GNT)

12 (A)When you do a good deed, make sure you know who is benefiting from it; then what you do will not be wasted.[a] 2 You will be repaid for any kindness you show to a devout person. If he doesn't repay you, the Most High will. 3 No good ever comes to a person who gives comfort to the wicked; it is...
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Sirach 12 - Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

12 If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds. 2 Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord. 3 For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Hi...
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Sirach 12 - Common English Bible (CEB)

12 If you do good,know for whom you do it, and there’ll be gratitude for your good deeds.2 Do good to the godly,and you will find a reward, and if not from them, then from the Most High.3 There is nothing goodfor those who continue to do evil or for those who don’t freely offer charity.4 Give to the...
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