BenSira:12
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When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it ;
so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits .
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Do good to the godly man ,
and thou shalt find a recompence ;
and if not from him ,
yet from the most High .
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There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil ,
nor to him that giveth no alms .
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Give to the godly man ,
and help not a sinner .
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Do well unto him that is lowly ,
but give not to the ungodly :
hold back thy bread ,
and give it not unto him ,
lest he overmaster thee thereby :
for [
else ]
thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him .
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For the most High hateth sinners ,
and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly ,
and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment .
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Give unto the good ,
and help not the sinner .
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A friend cannot be known in prosperity :
and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity .
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In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved :
but in his adversity even a friend will depart .
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Never trust thine enemy :
for like as iron rusteth ,
so is his wickedness .
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Though he humble himself ,
and go crouching ,
yet take good heed and beware of him ,
and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a lookingglass ,
and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away .
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Set him not by thee ,
lest ,
when he hath overthrown thee ,
he stand up in thy place ;
neither let him sit at thy right hand ,
lest he seek to take thy seat ,
and thou at the last remember my words ,
and be pricked therewith .
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Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent ,
or any such as come nigh wild beasts ?
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So one that goeth to a sinner ,
and is defiled with him in his sins ,
who will pity ?
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For a while he will abide with thee ,
but if thou begin to fall ,
he will not tarry .
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An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips ,
but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit :
he will weep with his eyes ,
but if he find opportunity ,
he will not be satisfied with blood .
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If adversity come upon thee ,
thou shalt find him there first ;
and though he pretend to help thee ,
yet shall he undermine thee .
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He will shake his head ,
and clap his hands ,
and whisper much ,
and change his countenance .