Sirach 12

1If you show kindness, know to whom you show it, And you shall be thanked for your good deeds.

ἐὰν εὖ ποιῇς γνῶθι τίνι ποιεῖς καὶ ἔσται χάρις τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου

2Do good to a godly man, and you will be repaid—If not by him, then certainly by the Most High.

εὖ ποίησον εὐσεβεῖ καὶ εὑρήσεις ἀνταπόδομα καὶ εἰ μὴ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ παρὰ τοῦ ὑψίστου

3There shall be no good things for him who continues in evil things, Or for him who does not give alms cheerfully.

οὐκ ἔσται ἀγαθὰ τῷ ἐνδελεχίζοντι εἰς κακὰ καὶ τῷ ἐλεημοσύνην μὴ χαριζομένῳ

4Give to a godly man, but do not help the sinner.

δὸς τῷ εὐσεβεῖ καὶ μὴ ἀντιλάβῃ τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ

5Do good to a humble man, but do not give to an ungodly man. Hold back his bread and do not give it to him, Lest by it he lord it over you. For you will receive twice as much evil coming back For all the good you did for him.

εὖ ποίησον ταπεινῷ καὶ μὴ δῷς ἀσεβεῖ ἐμπόδισον τοὺς ἄρτους αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ δῷς αὐτῷ ἵνα μὴ ἐν αὐτοῖς σε δυναστεύσῃ διπλάσια γὰρ κακὰ εὑρήσεις ἐν πᾶσιν ἀγαθοῖς οἷς ἂν ποιήσῃς αὐτῷ

6For the Most High also hates sinners And will render punishment on the ungodly.

ὅτι καὶ ὁ ὕψιστος ἐμίσησεν ἁμαρτωλοὺς καὶ τοῖς ἀσεβέσιν ἀποδώσει ἐκδίκησιν

7Give to the good man, but do not help the sinner.

δὸς τῷ ἀγαθῷ καὶ μὴ ἀντιλάβῃ τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ

8A friend will not be revealed when you are prosperous, Nor will an enemy hide himself when you are in adversity.

οὐκ ἐκδικηθήσεται ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ὁ φίλος καὶ οὐ κρυβήσεται ἐν κακοῖς ὁ ἐχθρός

9When a man prospers, his enemies are grieved, But when he is in adversity, even a friend will separate himself.

ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδρὸς οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν λύπῃ καὶ ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ φίλος διαχωρισθήσεται

10Never trust your enemy, For as copper becomes rusty, so is his evil.

μὴ πιστεύσῃς τῷ ἐχθρῷ σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ὡς γὰρ ὁ χαλκὸς ἰοῦται οὕτως ἡ πονηρία αὐτοῦ

11Even if he acts humble and goes about with a humble posture, Watch yourself, and be on your guard. Then you shall be to him like him who wipes off a mirror, And you will know that it is not corroded continually.

καὶ ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇ καὶ πορεύηται συγκεκυφώς ἐπίστησον τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ φύλαξαι ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσῃ αὐτῷ ὡς ἐκμεμαχὼς ἔσοπτρον καὶ γνώσῃ ὅτι οὐκ εἰς τέλος κατίωσεν

12Do not let him stand by your side, Lest he overthrow you and take your place. Do not seat him on your right, Lest he seek your seat of honor. Then at last you will know the truth of my words, And because of my words you will be pierced with sorrow.

μὴ στήσῃς αὐτὸν παρὰ σεαυτῷ μὴ ἀνατρέψας σε στῇ ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον σου μὴ καθίσῃς αὐτὸν ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μήποτε ζητήσῃ τὴν καθέδραν σου καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων ἐπιγνώσῃ τοὺς λόγους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ῥημάτων μου κατανυγήσῃ

13Who will pity a snake charmer when he is bitten, Or those who go near wild animals?

τίς ἐλεήσει ἐπαοιδὸν ὀφιόδηκτον καὶ πάντας τοὺς προσάγοντας θηρίοις

14So no one will pity one who approaches a sinful man And gets involved in his sins.

οὕτως τὸν προσπορευόμενον ἀνδρὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ καὶ συμφυρόμενον ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτοῦ

15He will stay with you for a while, But if you turn aside from him, he will not put up with you.

ὥραν μετὰ σοῦ διαμενεῖ καὶ ἐὰν ἐκκλίνῃς οὐ μὴ καρτερήσῃ

16An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, But in his heart he will plan to throw you into a pit. An enemy will shed tears, but if he finds an opportunity, He will not be satisfied apart from shedding your blood.

καὶ ἐν τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτοῦ γλυκανεῖ ὁ ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ βουλεύσεται ἀνατρέψαι σε εἰς βόθρον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ δακρύσει ὁ ἐχθρός καὶ ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρόν οὐκ ἐμπλησθήσεται ἀφ᾿ αἵματος

17If evil comes upon you, You will find your enemy there ahead of you, And as he pretends to help you, He will pull your feet from under you.

κακὰ ἐὰν ὑπαντήσῃ σοι εὑρήσεις αὐτὸν πρότερον ἐκεῖ σου καὶ ὡς βοηθῶν ὑποσχάσει πτέρναν σου

18He will shake his head and applaud with his hands; And he will whisper many things and alter his expression.

τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ κινήσει καὶ ἐπικροτήσει ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ καὶ πολλὰ διαψιθυρίσει καὶ ἀλλοιώσει τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ