Catholic Commentary on Sirach 12

"Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner." (Sirach 12:4)

Choosing to Whom You Give

If you do good, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds. Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid - if not by them, certainly by the Most High. No good comes to one who persists in evil or to one who does not give alms. Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner. Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly; hold back their bread and do not give it to them, for by means of it they might subdue you; then you will receive twice the evil for all the good you have done. A friend is not known in prosperity, nor is an enemy hidden in adversity.

The Catechism draws from Sirach 12 the principle of discernment in charity: generosity is a virtue but it does not require the absence of prudential judgment about how the gift will be used (CCC 2447).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, know to whom you do good. Generosity does not mean indiscriminate giving without attention to what the gift enables. The gift given to one who will use it to do harm is a gift against the community it damages. Discern your giving. Give generously and wisely, not generously and blindly.

Prayer

Lord God, give us generous and wise hearts that give discerningly as well as freely. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

12
1 If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds. 2 Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord. 3 For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent. 4 Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance. 5 Give to the good, and receive not a sinner. 6 Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee. 7 For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly. 8 A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity. 9 In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity. 10 Never trust thy enemy: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth: 11 Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him. 12 Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat: and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings. 13 Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins. 14 For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to decline, he will not endure it. 15 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit. 16 An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood: 17 And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first. 18 An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help thee, will undermine thy feet. 19 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.

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