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Wisdom of Ben Sira 12:8-10
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 12:8-10
New Catholic Bible
If You Get Bitten, It Is Your Fault[a]
8 When you are enjoying prosperity it is not easy to know who your friends are,
but in times of adversity there is no problem in discerning your enemies.
9 When you prosper even your enemies are grieved,[b]
but in adversity even your friends will shun you.
10 Never trust your enemy;
just as bronze tarnishes, so does his wickedness.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 12:8 Nothing but misfortune can overtake those who keep bad company. Flatterers in good times await only bad times to supplant the one whom in the past they touted as their friend.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 12:9 Grieved: Greek; Hebrew reads: “friendly.”
