The chapter addresses discernment in giving and helping. Do good to the righteous, not to the ungodly, lest you arm your own enemy. A friend is known in adversity; an enemy's humility is a disguise. Do not trust a former enemy even when he humbles himself, for his malice is merely waiting for opportunity. The chapter uses vivid animal imagery -- iron rusting, the snake charmer -- to illustrate the persistence of concealed hostility.
This chapter stands in stark tension with Jesus' teaching to love enemies (Matthew 5:44). Ben Sira represents the older wisdom tradition of moral realism, where indiscriminate giving is considered foolish rather than generous. The distinction between the worthy and unworthy recipient was standard in Jewish and Greco-Roman ethics alike.
The explicit instruction to withhold good from the sinner (vv. 4-7) challenges the universal mercy ethic of the New Testament. The teaching was debated in early Christianity: does wisdom's caution override love's generosity? Augustine attempted to harmonize the two by distinguishing the person (always to be loved) from the sin (never to be aided).
Matthew 5:43-48 (love your enemies); Proverbs 25:21-22 (feed your hungry enemy); Proverbs 26:24-26 (the one who hates disguises it); 2 Samuel 3:27 (Joab's deceptive embrace of Abner); Psalm 41:9 (my close friend has lifted his heel against me).
Si benefeceris scito cui feceris et erit gratia in bonis tuis multa.
If you do good, know to whom you do it, and your good deeds will bring much gratitude.
Benefac iusto et invenies retributionem magnam et si non ab ipso certe a Domino.
Do good to the righteous, and you will find great repayment -- if not from him, then certainly from the Lord.
Non est enim ei bene qui adsiduus est in malis et eleemosynas non danti quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores et misertus est paenitentibus.
For nothing good comes to one who persists in evil and gives no alms, since the Most High himself hates sinners and has mercy on the penitent.
Da misericordi et ne suscipias peccatorem benefac humili et non dederis impio.
Give to the merciful, and do not receive a sinner; do good to the humble, and do not give to the ungodly.
Prohibe panes illi dari ne in ipsis potentior te sit nam duplicia mala invenies in omnibus bonis quaecumque feceris illi quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores et impiis reddet vindictam.
Withhold bread from him, lest by it he become more powerful than you; for you will find double the evil for all the good you do for him, since the Most High also hates sinners and will repay the ungodly with vengeance.
Da bono et non receperis peccatorem.
Give to the good, and do not receive a sinner.
Benefac humili et non dederis impio prohibe panes illius dari illi ne in ipsis te potentior sit.
Do good to the humble, and do not give to the ungodly; hold back his bread from him, lest by it he become more powerful than you.
Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus et non abscondetur in malis inimicus.
A friend is not recognized in prosperity, and an enemy cannot hide in adversity.
In bonis viri inimici illius in tristitia et in malitia illius amicus agnitus est.
When a man prospers, his enemies are grieved; and in his misfortune, a friend is made known.
Non credas inimico tuo in aeternum sicut enim aeramentum aeruginat nequitia illius.
Never trust your enemy, for like bronze that rusts, so is his wickedness.
Aerugo is verdigris, the green patina of oxidized bronze; wickedness works like corrosion -- slowly, invisibly, destructively.
Et si humiliatus vadat curvus adice animum tuum et custodi te ab illo.
Even if he goes about humbled and bowed down, be watchful in your spirit and guard yourself against him.
Non statuas illum penes te nec sedeat ad dexteram tuam ne forte conversus in locum tuum inquirat cathedram tuam et in novissimo agnoscas verba mea et in sermonibus meis stimuleris.
Do not set him beside you, nor let him sit at your right hand, lest he turn and seek your place; and in the end you recognize my words, and my sayings sting you.
Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso et omnibus qui adpropiant bestiis et qui comitatur cum viro iniquo et obvolutus est in peccatis eius.
Who will pity a snake charmer bitten by a serpent, or anyone who goes near wild beasts? So it is with the one who keeps company with an unjust man and is entangled in his sins.
The incantator uses spells to control serpents; the image suggests that even expertise cannot guarantee safety with dangerous companions.
Una hora tecum permanebit si autem declinaveris non supportabit.
For a time he will stay with you, but if you falter, he will not stand by you.
In labiis suis indulcat inimicus et in corde suo insidiatur ut subvertat te in foveam.
An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he plots to throw you into a pit.
In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus et si invenerit tempus non satiabitur sanguine.
An enemy sheds tears from his eyes, but if he finds the opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.
Si incurrerint tibi mala invenies eum illic priorem et quasi adiuvans suffodiet plantas tuas.
If misfortune befalls you, you will find him there first; and pretending to help, he will undermine your footing.
Caput suum movebit et plaudet manu et multa susurrans commutabit vultum suum.
He will shake his head and clap his hands, and whispering much, he will change his expression.