Sirach - Chapter 13

Passage

He that touches pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that has fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride. He shall take a burden upon him that has fellowship with one more honorable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is richer than yourself. What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken. The rich man has done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace. If you give, he will make use of you: and if you have nothing, he will forsake you. If you have any thing, he will live with you, and will make you bare, and he will not be sorry for you. If he has need of you he will deceive you, and smiling upon you will put you in hope; he will speak you fair, and will say: What do you want? And he will shame you by his meats, till he has drawn you dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at you: and afterward when he sees you, he will forsake you, and shake his head at you. Humble yourself to God, and wait for his hands. Beware that you be not deceived into folly, and be humbled. Be not lowly in your wisdom, lest being humbled you be deceived into folly. If you are invited by one that is mightier, withdraw yourself: for so he will invite you the more. Be not troublesome to him, lest you be put back: and keep not far from him, lest you be forgotten. Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his many words: for by much talk he will sift you, and smiling will examine you concerning your secrets. His cruel mind will lay up your words: and he will not spare to do you hurt, and to cast you into prison. Take heed to yourself, and attend diligently to what you hear: for you walk in danger of your ruin. When you hear those things, see as it were in sleep, and you shall awake. Love God all your life, and call upon him for your salvation. Every beast loves its like: so also every man him that is nearest to himself. All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man shall associate himself to his like. If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so the sinner with the just. What fellowship has a holy man with a dog, or what part has the rich with the poor? The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor are devoured by the rich. And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich man abhors the poor. When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance. When a rich man has been deceived, he has many helpers: he has spoken proud things, and they have justified him. The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he has spoken wisely, and could have no place. The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said they extol even to the clouds. The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he stumble, they will overthrow him. Riches are good to him that has no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly. The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good, or for evil. The token of a good heart, and a good countenance you shall hardly find, and with labor.