Sirach 13:21
King James VersionSource notes
“A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends.”
Context
18What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what peace between the rich and the poor?
19As the wild ass is the lion’s prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor.
20As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.
21A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends.
22When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place.
23When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
24Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.