Sir 11:19 Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

Sir 11:20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.

Sir 11:21 Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

Sir 11:22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the G.o.dly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.

Sir 11:23 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

Sir 11:24 Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?

Sir 11:25 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

Sir 11:26 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

Sir 11:27 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

Sir 11:28 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

Sir 11:29 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

Sir 11:30 Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:

Sir 11:31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

Sir 11:32 Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

Sir 11:33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

Sir 11:34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.

Sir 12:1 When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.

Sir 12:2 Do good to the G.o.dly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.

Sir 12:3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.

Sir 12:4 Give to the G.o.dly man, and help not a sinner.

Sir 12:5 Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the unG.o.dly: 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.

Sir 12:6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the unG.o.dly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

Sir 12:7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.

Sir 12:8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

Sir 12:9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.

Sir 12:10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.

Sir 12:11 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 lookinggla.s.s, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away.

Sir 12:12 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 p.r.i.c.ked therewith.

Sir 12:13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

Sir 12:14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?

Sir 12:15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.

Sir 12:16 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.

Sir 12:17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.

Sir 12:18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.

Sir 13:1 He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.

Sir 13:2 Burden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together?

for if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.

Sir 13:3 The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threateneth withal: the poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.

Sir 13:4 If thou be for his profit, he will use thee: but if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.

Sir 13:5 If thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea, he will make thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.

Sir 13:6 If he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon thee, and put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and say, What wantest thou?

Sir 13:7 And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn afterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.

Sir 13:8 Beware that thou be not deceived and brought down in thy jollity.

Sir 13:9 If thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw thyself, and so much the more will he invite thee.

Sir 13:10 Press thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far off, lest thou be forgotten.

Sir 13:11 Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and believe not his many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets:

Sir 13:12 But cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.

Sir 13:13 Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy overthrowing: when thou hearest these things, awake in thy sleep.

Sir 13:14 Love the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.

Sir 13:15 Every beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbor.