Sir 13

1 He that touches pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that has fellowship with a proudman shall be like to him. 2 Burden not yourself above your power while you live; and have no fellowship with one thatis mightier and richer than yourself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together? for if theone be struck against the other, it shall be broken. 3 The rich man has done wrong, and yet he threatens withal: the poor is wronged, and hemust entreat also. 4 If you be for his profit, he will use you: but if you have nothing, he will forsake you. 5 If you have any thing, he will live with you: yes, he will make you bare, and will notbe sorry for it. 6 If he have need of you, he will deceive you, and smile upon you, and put you in hope;he will speak you fair, and say, What want you? 7 And he will shame you by his meats, until he have drawn you dry twice or thrice, and atthe last he will laugh you to scorn afterward, when he sees you, he will forsake you, and shake his headat you. 8 Beware that you be not deceived and brought down in your jollity. 9 If you be invited of a mighty man, withdraw yourself, and so much the more will he inviteyou. 10 Press you not upon him, lest you be put back; stand not far off, lest you be forgotten. 11 Affect not to be made equal to him in talk, and believe not his many words: for withmuch communication will he tempt you, and smiling upon you will get out your secrets: 12 But cruelly he will lay up your words, and will not spare to do you hurt, and to putyou in prison. 13 Observe, and take good heed, for you walk in peril of your overthrowing: when you hearthese things, awake in your sleep. 14 Love the Lord all your life, and call upon him for your salvation. 15 Every beast loves his like, and every man loves his neighbor. 16 All flesh consorts according to kind, and a man will cleave to his like. 17 What fellowship has the wolf with the lamb? so the sinner with the godly. 18 What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what peace between the richand the poor? 19 As the wild ass is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor. 20 As the proud hate humility: so does the rich abhor the poor. 21 A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down isthrust away by his friends. 22 When a rich man is fallen, he has many helpers: he speaks things not to be spoken, andyet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spoke wisely, and could haveno place. 23 When a rich man speaks, every man holds his tongue, and, look, what he says, they extolit to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they willhelp to overthrow him. 24 Riches are good to him that has no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly. 25 The heart of a man changes his countenance, whether it be for good or evil: and a merryheart makes a cheerful countenance. 26 A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding outof parables is a wearisome labor of the mind.