Sirach 12:1–9
1If you do good, know to whom you do it, and your good deeds will have thanks.↗
2Do good to a godly man, and you will find a reward— if not from him, then from the Most High.↗
3No good will come to him who continues to do evil, nor to him who gives no alms.↗
4Give to the godly man, and don’t help the sinner.↗
5Do good to one who is lowly. Don’t give to an ungodly man. Keep back his bread, and don’t give it to him, lest he subdue you with it; for you would receive twice as much evil for all the good you would have done to him.↗
6For the Most High also hates sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.↗
7Give to the good man, and don’t help the sinner.↗
8A man’s friend won’t be fully tried in prosperity. His enemy won’t be hidden in adversity.↗
9In a man’s prosperity, his enemies are grieved. In his adversity, even his friend leaves.↗
Source: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain. Text is taken directly from the source. Headings are editorial, not biblical verses.
Languages: English public-domain source is available throughout all 73 books. Slovenian and German Scripture editions will be published only after their precise source texts are verified; we do not substitute machine-written translations.