Sirach 13:1-8

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

13 Whoever touches pitch will be defiled,
    and whoever associates with a proud man will become like him.
² Do not lift a weight beyond your strength,
    nor associate with a man mightier and richer than you.
How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle?
    The pot will strike against it, and will itself be broken.
³ A rich man does wrong, and he even adds reproaches;
    a poor man suffers wrong, and he must add apologies.
⁴ A rich man^[a] will exploit you if you can be of use to him,
    but if you are in need he will forsake you.
⁵ If you own something, he will live with you;
    he will drain your resources and he will not care.
⁶ When he needs you he will deceive you,
    he will smile at you and give you hope.
He will speak to you kindly and say, “What do you need?”
⁷ He will shame you with his foods,
    until he has drained you two or three times;
    and finally he will deride you.
Should he see you afterwards, he will forsake you,
    and shake his head at you.