Sirach 12:10
King James VersionSource notes
“Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.”
Context
7Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.
8A 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.
10Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, 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.
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.
13Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?