Ben Sira 13:5-15

5 He will live with you as long as you have anything and will gladly drain you dry.
6 If he needs you, he will trick you with his smiles and cheerful, kindly words. "Do you need anything?" he will ask.
7 He will feed you until you are embarrassed. Finally, when he has drained you two or three times over, he will laugh at you. If you see him later, he will pretend he doesn't know you, and will pass you by.
8 Be careful not to be misled; you can be enjoying yourself and suddenly find yourself humiliated.
9 If you are invited to the home of someone influential, be reserved in your behavior. Then he will invite you more often.
10 If you push yourself on him, he will put you in your place. On the other hand, if you keep your distance from him, he will forget about you.
11 Don't pretend to be his equal or trust everything he says. In spite of all of his long and polite conversation, he is testing you.
12 If a person does not keep confidences, he is cruel; he will not hesitate to hurt you or have you put in jail.
13 Keep your secrets to yourself and be very careful, for you are always walking on dangerous ground.
15 Every creature prefers its own kind, and people are no different.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Some manuscripts add verses 13b-14:] When you hear this in your sleep, wake up! +V14+WAs long as you live, love the Lord and call on him to rescue you.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.