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 do not help the sinner.
5 Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly;
hold back his bread, and do not give it to him,
lest by means of it he subdue you;
for you will receive twice as much evil
for all the good which you do to him.
6 For the Most High also hates sinners
and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.[a]
7 Give to the good man, but do not help the sinner.

8 A friend will not be known[b] in prosperity,
nor will an enemy be hidden in adversity.
9 A man’s enemies are grieved when he prospers,
and in his adversity even his friend will separate from him.
10 Never trust your enemy,
for like the rusting of copper, so is his wickedness.
11 Even if he humbles himself and goes about cringing,
watch yourself, and be on your guard against him;
and you will be to him like one who has polished a mirror,
and you will know that it was not hopelessly tarnished.
12 Do not put him next to you,
lest he overthrow you and take your place;
do not have him sit at your right,
lest he try to take your seat of honor,
and at last you will realize the truth of my words,
and be stung by what I have said.

13 Who will pity a snake charmer bitten by a serpent,
or any who go near wild beasts?
14 So no one will pity a man who associates with a sinner
and becomes involved in his sins.
15 He will stay with you for a time,
but if you falter, he will not stand by you.

16 An enemy will speak sweetly with his lips,
but in his mind he will plan to throw you into a pit;
an enemy will weep with his eyes,
but if he finds an opportunity his thirst for blood will be insatiable.
17 If calamity befalls you, you will find him there ahead of you;
and while pretending to help you, he will trip you by the heel;
18 he will shake his head, and clap his hands,
and whisper much, and change his expression.

Footnotes

  1. Sirach 12:6 Other authorities add and he is keeping them for the mighty day of their punishment
  2. Sirach 12:8 Other authorities read punished

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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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