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 help the sinner.(D)
5 Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly;
hold back their bread, and do not give it to them,
for by means of it they might subdue you;
then you will receive twice as much evil
for all the good you have done to them.
6 For the Most High also hates sinners
and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.[a](E)
7 Give to the one who is good, but do not help the sinner.
8 A friend is not known[b] in prosperity,
nor is an enemy hidden in adversity.(F)
9 One’s enemies are friendly[c] when one prospers,
but in adversity even one’s friend disappears.(G)
10 Never trust your enemy,
for like corrosion in copper, so is his wickedness.
11 Even if he humbles himself and walks bowed down,
take care to be on your guard against him.
Be to him like one who polishes a mirror,
to be sure it does not become completely tarnished.(H)
12 Do not put him next to you,
or he may overthrow you and take your place.
Do not let him sit at your right hand,
or else he may try to take your own seat,
and at last you will acknowledge my words
and be stung by what I have said.

13 Who pities a snake charmer when he is bitten
or all those who go near wild animals?(I)
14 So no one pities people who associate with sinners
and become involved in their sins.(J)
15 They stand by you for a while,
but if you falter, they will not be there.
16 Enemies speak sweetly with their lips,
but in their hearts they plan to throw you into a pit;
enemies may have tears in their eyes,
but if they find an opportunity they will never have enough of your blood.(K)
17 If evil comes upon you, you will find them there ahead of you;
pretending to help, they will trip you up.(L)
18 Then they will shake their heads and clap their hands
and whisper much and show their true faces.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 12.6Other ancient authorities add and he is keeping them for the day of their punishment
  2. 12.8Other ancient authorities read punished
  3. 12.9Heb: Gk grieved

Cross references

  1. 12.1 : Mt 7.6
  2. 12.2 : Mt 10.41; Lk 6.35
  3. 12.3 : Tob 4.7
  4. 12.4 : Tob 4.17; Mt 5.43–48
  5. 12.6 : Ps 11.5, 6
  6. 12.8 : Sir 6.7
  7. 12.9 : Prov 19.4, 7
  8. 12.11 : Ps 10.10; Sir 19.26
  9. 12.13 : Ps 58.5; Eccl 10.11; Jer 8.17
  10. 12.14 : Sir 21.2
  11. 12.16 : Ps 28.3; 55.21; Prov 26.24, 25; Jer 41.6, 7
  12. 12.17 : Ps 41.9
  13. 12.18 : Sir 13.7, 25

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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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