1 When thou wilt do good, know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.

1 Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris,
et erit gratia in bonis tuis multa.

2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.

2 Benefac justo, et invenies retributionem magnam:
et si non ab ipso, certe a Domino.

3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.

3 Non est enim ei bene qui assiduus est in malis,
et eleemosynas non danti:
quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores,
et misertus est pœnitentibus.

4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.

4 Da misericordi, et ne suscipias peccatorem:
et impiis et peccatoribus reddet vindictam,
custodiens eos in diem vindictæ.

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.

5 Da bono, et non receperis peccatorem.

6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

6 Benefac humili, et non dederis impio:
prohibe panes illi dari, ne in ipsis potentior te sit:

7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.

7 nam duplicia mala invenies in omnibus bonis quæcumque feceris illi,
quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores,
et impiis reddet vindictam.

8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

8 ¶ Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus,
et non abscondetur in malis inimicus.

9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.

9 In bonis viri, inimici illius in tristitia:
et in malitia illius, amicus agnitus est.

10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.

10 Non credas inimico tuo in æternum:
sicut enim æramentum æruginat nequitia illius:

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.

11 et si humiliatus vadat curvus,
adjice animum tuum, et custodi te ab illo.

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.

12 Non statuas illum penes te,
nec sedeat ad dexteram tuam,
ne forte conversus in locum tuum, inquirat cathedram tuam,
et in novissimo agnosces verba mea,
et in sermonibus meis stimuleris.

13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

13 Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso,
et omnibus qui appropiant bestiis?
et sic qui comitatur cum viro iniquo,
et obvolutus est in peccatis ejus.

14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?

14 Una hora tecum permanebit:
si autem declinaveris, non supportabit.

15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.

15 In labiis suis indulcat inimicus,
et in corde suo insidiatur ut subvertat te in foveam.

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.

16 In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus,
et si invenerit tempus, non satiabitur sanguine.

17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.

17 Et si incurrerint tibi mala,
invenies eum illic priorem.

18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.

18 In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus,
et quasi adjuvans suffodiet plantas tuas.

19 Caput suum movebit, et plaudet manu,
et multa susurrans commutabit vultum suum.