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Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 13
Cautions in the choice of company.
 1 |
He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride. |
2 |
He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one more honourable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is richer than thyself. |
3 |
What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken. |
4 |
The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace. |
5 |
If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee. |
6 |
If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee. |
7 |
If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What wantest thou? |
8 |
And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee. |
9 |
Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands. |
10 |
Beware that thou be not deceived into folly, and be humbled. |
11 |
Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived into folly. |
12 |
If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw thyself: for so he will invite thee the more. |
13 |
Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not far from him, lest thou be forgotten. |
14 |
Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will examine thee concerning thy secrets. |
15 |
His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison. |
16 |
Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin. |
17 |
When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep, and thou shalt awake. |
18 |
Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation. |
19 |
Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is nearest to himself. |
20 |
All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man shall associate himself to his like. |
21 |
If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so the sinner with the just. |
22 |
What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath the rich with the poor? |
23 |
The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor are devoured by the rich. |
24 |
And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich man abhorreth the poor. |
25 |
When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance. |
26 |
When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him. |
27 |
The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath spoken wisely, and could have no place. |
28 |
The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said they extol even to the clouds. |
29 |
The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he stumble, they will overthrow him. |
30 |
Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly. |
31 |
The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good, or for evil. |
32 |
The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt hardly find, and with labour. |
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