¹If you do good,

know for whom you do it,

and there’ll be gratitude

for your good deeds.

²Do good to the godly,

and you will find a reward,

and if not from them,

then from the Most High.

³There is nothing good

for those who continue to do evil

or for those who

don’t freely offer charity.

⁴Give to the pious, but don’t assist sinners.

⁵Do good to the humble,

but don’t give to the ungodly.

Hold back your bread,

and don’t give it to them,

You will encounter twice as much evil

⁶The Most High also hated sinners,

and he will repay the ungodly

with punishment.

⁷Give to good people,

and don’t assist sinners.

⁸A friend is not avenged[#12.8 Heb is not recognized]

in prosperity,

and an enemy is not hidden

in adversity.

⁹When people are prosperous,

their enemies are in pain,

and when they meet with adversity,

even friends will keep away.

¹⁰Don’t ever trust your enemies;

for just as copper corrodes,

so their wickedness does as well.

¹¹If they are humbled

and walk away stooped over,

look after yourself,

and keep up your guard against them.

¹²Don’t put them next to you;

Don’t sit them on your right side,

In the end you will understand my words,

and you will be pierced by what I’ve said.

¹³Who pities a snake charmer

who gets bitten?

Or anyone who goes near wild beasts?

¹⁴So it is with anyone

who goes near sinful people

and becomes involved in their sins.

¹⁵They will remain with you for a time,

but if you waver, they won’t be loyal.

¹⁶Enemies speak sweetly with their lips,

Enemies cry tears with their eyes,

¹⁷If you meet up with trouble,

you will find them there ahead of you;

and appearing to help,

they will trip you.

¹⁸They will shake their heads

and clap their hands,

and they will whisper many things

and change their faces.