Sirach 13

¹He who touches pitch will be defiled.

He who has fellowship with a proud man will become like him.

²Don’t take up a burden above your strength.

Have no fellowship with one who is mightier and richer than yourself.

What fellowship would the earthen pot have with the kettle?

The kettle will strike, and the pot will be dashed in pieces.

³The rich man does a wrong and threatens.

The poor is wronged and apologizes.

⁴If you are profitable, he will exploit you.

If you are in need, he will forsake you.

⁵If you own something, he will live with you.

He will drain your resources and will not be sorry.

⁶Does he need you? Then he will deceive you,

smile at you, and give you hope.

He will speak kindly to you and say, “What do you need?”

⁷He will shame you by his delicacies

until he has made you bare twice or thrice,

and in the end he will laugh you to scorn.

Afterward he will see you, will forsake you,

and shake his head at you.

⁸Beware that you are not deceived

and brought low in your enjoyment.

⁹If a mighty man invites you, be reserved,

and he will invite you more.

¹⁰Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back.

Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten.

¹¹Don’t try to speak with him as an equal,

and don’t believe his many words;

for he will test you with much talk,

and will examine you in a smiling manner.

¹²He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful.

He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind.

¹³Keep them to yourself and be careful,

for you walk in danger of falling. ¹⁴

¹⁵Every living creature loves its own kind,

and every man loves his neighbor.

¹⁶All flesh associates with their own kind.

A man will stick to people like himself.

¹⁷What fellowship would the wolf have with the lamb?

So is the sinner to the godly.

¹⁸What peace is there between a hyena and a dog?

What peace is there between a rich man and the poor?

¹⁹Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the wilderness;

likewise poor men are feeding grounds for the rich.

²⁰Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man;

likewise a poor man is an abomination to the rich.

²¹When a rich man is shaken, he is supported by his friends,

but when the humble is down, he is pushed away even by his friends.

²²When a rich man falls, there are many helpers.

He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him.

A humble man falls, and men rebuke him.

He utters wisdom, and is not listened to.

²³A rich man speaks, and all keep silence.

They extol what he says to the clouds.

A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this?”

If he stumbles, they will help to overthrow him.

²⁴Riches are good if they have no sin.

Poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly.1

²⁵The heart of a man changes his countenance,

whether it is for good or for evil.

²⁶A cheerful countenance is a sign of a prosperous heart.

Devising proverbs takes strenuous thinking.