The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Son of Sirach 13
1 He who touches pitch will be defiled. He who has
fellowship with a proud man will become like him.
2 Don’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.
3 The richmandoes a wrong andthreatens.
The poor is wronged and apologizes.
4 If you are profitable, he will exploit you.
If you are in need, he will forsake you.
5 If you own something, he will live with
you. He will drain your resources and will
not be sorry.
6 Does 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?”
7 He 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. After wardhe will see you, will
for sake you, and shake his head at you.
8 Beware that you are not deceived
and brought low in your enjoyment.
9 If a mighty man invites you, be reserved,
and he will invite you more.
10 Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back.
Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten.
11 Don’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.
12 He who doesn’t keep secrets to himselfis
unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm
and to bind.
13 Keep them to yourself and be careful,
for you walk† in danger of falling.
14 ‡
15 Every living creature loves its own kind,
and every man loves his neighbor.
16 All flesh associates with their own kind.
A man will stick to people like himself.
17 What fellowship would the wolf have
with the lamb? So is the sinner to the godly.
18 What peace is there between a hyena
and a dog? What peace is there between a rich
man and the poor?
19 Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the
wilderness; likewise poor men are feeding
grounds for the rich.
20 Lowliness is an abomination to a proud
man; likewise apoormanis anabomination
to the rich.
21 When 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.
22 When 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.
23 A 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.
24 Riches are good if they have no sin.
Poverty is evil only in the opinion of
the ungodly.
25 The heart of a man changes his countenance,
whether it is for good or for evil.§
26 A cheerful countenance is a sign of a
prosperous heart. Devising proverbs
takes strenuous thinking.