Ecclesiasticus 12

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

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

When you will do good, know to whom you do it; so shall you be thanked for your benefits.

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

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

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

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

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

Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner — a state settled in error.

5Do 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.

Do well to him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back your bread — your truth-substance — and give it not to him, lest he overmaster you thereby: for else you shall receive twice as much evil for all the good you shall have done to him.

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

For the most High hates sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly — the settling of accounts upon the godless state — and keeps them against the mighty day of their punishment, the day the order confronts them.

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

Give to the good, and help not the sinner.

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

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

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

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

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

Never trust your enemy: for like as iron rusts, so is his wickedness.

11Though 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.

Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him, and you shall be to him as if you had wiped a lookingglass, and you shall know that his rust has not been altogether wiped away.

12Set 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.

Set him not by you, lest, when he has overthrown you, he stand up in your place; neither let him sit at your right hand, lest he seek to take your seat, and you at last remember my words, and be pricked therewith.

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

Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent — the subtle sense-consciousness — or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

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

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

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

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

16An 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.

An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagines how to throw you into a pit — the empty depth — he will weep with his eyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

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

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

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

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

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.