Chapter 12

¹If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds. ²Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord. ³For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent. ⁴Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance. ⁵Give to the good, and receive not a sinner. ⁶Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee. ⁷For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly. ⁸A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity. ⁹In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity. ¹⁰Never trust thy enemy: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth: ¹¹11Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him. ¹²Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat: and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings. ¹³Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins. ¹⁴For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it. ¹⁵An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit. ¹⁶An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood: ¹⁷And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first. ¹⁸An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet. ¹⁹He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.