Sirach 6

¹Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued.

²You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness,

³which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert.

⁴For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious.

⁵A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man.

⁶Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor.

⁷If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily.

⁸For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation.

⁹And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults.

¹⁰And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need.

¹¹A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household.

¹²If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship.

¹³Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends.

¹⁴A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure.

¹⁵Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity.

¹⁶A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one.

¹⁷He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him.

¹⁸Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs.

¹⁹Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then wait for her good fruits.

²⁰For in doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce.

²¹How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her.

²²She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay.

²³For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God.

²⁴Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice.

²⁵Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains.

²⁶Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings.

²⁷Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength.

²⁸Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her.

²⁹For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight.

³⁰Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be a robe of glory.

³¹For in her is the beauty of life, and her bindings are a healing bandage.

³²You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing.

³³Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise.

³⁴If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise.

³⁵Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you.

³⁶And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down the steps of his doors.

³⁷Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you.

Sirach 6

¹Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

²Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone.

³Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

⁴A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

⁵Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

⁶Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

⁷If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

⁸For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

⁹And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.

¹⁰Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

¹¹But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

¹²If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.

¹³Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

¹⁴A faithfull friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.

¹⁵Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

¹⁶A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.

¹⁷Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

¹⁸My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

¹⁹Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

²⁰She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

²¹She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

²²For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.

²³Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

²⁴And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.

²⁵Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

²⁶Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.

²⁷Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

²⁸For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

²⁹Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

³⁰For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

³¹Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.

³²My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.

³³If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,

³⁴Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

³⁵Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

³⁶And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

³⁷Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.