Jesus Sirach 37

1Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?

2But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.

3O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?

4There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.

5There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly’s sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.

6Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.

7Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.

8Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.

9Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:

10Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:

11Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.

12Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,

13Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work,

14Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.

15But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,

16Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.

17And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.

18The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to watch.

19But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.

20In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.

21A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

22A skillful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.

23He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.

24Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.

25There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.

26A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.

27A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.

28The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

29A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.

30My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:

31For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.

32Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:

33For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.

34By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.

1[Omnis amicus dicet: Et ego amicitiam copulavi: sed est amicus solo nomine amicus. Nonne tristitia inest usque ad mortem?

2sodalis autem et amicus ad inimicitiam convertentur.

3O præsumptio nequissima, unde create es cooperire aridam malitia et dolositate illius?

4Sodalis amico conjucundatur in oblectationibus, et in tempore tribulationis adversarius erit.

5Sodalis amico condolet causa ventris, et contra hostem accipiet scutum.

6Non obliviscaris amici tui in animo tuo, et non immemor sis illius in opibus tuis.

7Noli consiliari cum eo qui tibi insidiatur, et a zelantibus te absconde consilium.]

8[Omnis consiliarius prodit consilium, sed est consiliarius in semetipso.

9A consiliario serva animam tuam: prius scito quæ sit illius necessitas: et ipse enim animo suo cogitabit:

10ne forte mittat sudem in terram, et dicat tibi:

11Bona est via tua: et stet e contrario videre quid tibi eveniat.

12Cum viro irreligioso tracta de sanctitate, et cum injusto de justitia, et cum muliere de ea quæ æmulatur, cum timido de bello, cum negotiatore de trajectione, cum emptore de venditione, cum viro livido de gratiis agendis,

13cum impio de pietate, cum inhonesto de honestate, cum operario agrario de omni opere,

14cum operario annuali de consummatione anni, cum servo pigro de multa operatione. Non attendas his in omni consilio:

15sed cum viro sancto assiduus esto, quemcumque cognoveris observantem timorem Dei:

16cujus anima est secundum animam tuam, et qui, cum titubaveris in tenebris, condolebit tibi.

17Cor boni consilii statue tecum: non est enim tibi aliud pluris illo.

18Anima viri sancti enuntiat aliquando vera, quam septem circumspectores sedentes in excelso ad speculandum.

19Et in his omnibus deprecare Altissimum, ut dirigat in veritate viam tuam.]

20[Ante omnia opera verbum verax præcedat te, et ante omnem actum consilium stabile.

21Verbum nequam immutabit cor: ex quo partes quatuor oriuntur: bonum et malum, vita et mors: et dominatrix illorum est assidua lingua. Est vir astutus multorum eruditor, et animæ suæ inutilis est.

22Vir peritus multos erudivit, et animæ suæ suavis est.

23Qui sophistice loquitur odibilis est: in omni re defraudabitur.

24Non est illi data a Domino gratia, omni enim sapientia defraudatus est.

25Est sapiens animæ suæ sapiens, et fructus sensus illius laudabilis.

26Vir sapiens plebem suam erudit, et fructus sensus illius fideles sunt.

27Vir sapiens implebitur benedictionibus, et videntes illum laudabunt.

28Vita viri in numero dierum: dies autem Israël innumerabiles sunt.

29Sapiens in populo hæreditabit honorem, et nomen illius erit vivens in æternum.]

30[Fili, in vita tua tenta animam tuam, et si fuerit nequam non des illi potestatem:

31non enim omnia omnibus expediunt, et non omni animæ omne genus placet.

32Noli avidus esse in omni epulatione, et non te effundas super omnem escam:

33in multis enim escis erit infirmitas, et aviditas appropinquabit usque ad choleram.

34Propter crapulam multi obierunt: qui autem abstinens est adjiciet vitam.]

1Every friend will say: “I also am a close friend.” But there is a friend who is a friend in name only. Is this not a grief even unto death?

2But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.

3O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?

4A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.

5There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.

6You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.

7Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.

8Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.

9Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.

10Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:

11“Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.

12Do not discuss holiness with an irreligious man, nor justice with one who is unjust. You should not speak with a woman about her who is a rival, nor with a coward about war, nor with a merchant about exaggeration, nor with a buyer about selling, nor with a spiteful man about giving thanks,

13nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,

14nor with a worker hired for a year about the end of the year, nor with a lazy servant about great works. You should pay no heed to these persons in any matter of counsel.

15But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,

16whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.

17And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.

18At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.

19But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.

20In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.

21A wicked word can change the heart. From the heart four kinds of things arise: good and evil, life and death. And the tongue is continually their ruler. There is a man who is an astute teacher of many, and yet this is useless to his own soul.

22A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.

23Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.

24Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.

25There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.

26A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.

27A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.

28The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.

29A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.

30Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.

31For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.

32Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.

33For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.

34By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.