الإصحَاحُ
الثَّانِي عَشَرَ

Chapter 12

 

12:1 When thou wilt do good know to whom
thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits. 2 Do good to the
godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the
most High. 3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor
to him that giveth no alms. 4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner. 5
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. 6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the
ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

 

7 Give unto the good, and help not the
sinner. 8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden
in adversity. 9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his
adversity even a friend will depart. 10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as
iron rusteth, so is his wickedness. 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 lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not
been altogether wiped away. 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 pricked therewith.

 

13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten
with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts? 14 So one that goeth to a
sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity? 15 For a while he
will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry. 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. 17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there
first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee. 18 He
will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his
countenance.