प्रवक्ता ग्रन्थ 6

1Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.

2Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,

3And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.

4For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.

5A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.

6Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.

7If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.

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

9And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.

10And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.

11A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.

12If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.

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

14A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.

15Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.

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

17He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.

18My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.

19Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:

20For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.

21How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.

22She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.

23For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.

24Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.

25Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:

26Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.

27Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.

28Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:

29For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.

30Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:

31For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.

32Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.

33My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.

34If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.

35Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.

36And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.

37Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.

1[Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo: improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit: et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis.]

2[Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam:

3et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo.

4Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, et deducet in sortem impiorum.]

5[Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat.

6Multi pacifici sint tibi: et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.

7Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, et ne facile credas ei.

8Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, et non permanebit in die tribulationis.

9Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit.

10Est autem amicus socius mensæ, et non permanebit in die necessitatis.

11Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget.

12Si humiliaverit se contra te, et a facie tua absconderit se, unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam.

13Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.

14Amicus fidelis protectio fortis: qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum.

15Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius.

16Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis: et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum.

17Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius.]

18[Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam.

19Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, et sustine bonos fructus illius.

20In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, et cito edes de generationibus illius.

21Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus ! et non permanebit in illa excors.

22Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis: et non demorabuntur projicere illam.

23Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestata: quibus autem cognita est, permanet usque ad conspectum Dei.

24Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, et ne abjicias consilium meum.

25Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, et in torques illius collum tuum.

26Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedieris vinculis ejus.

27In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus.

28Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi: et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam:

29in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, et convertetur tibi in oblectationem.

30Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, et torques illius in stolam gloriæ:

31decor enim vitæ est in illa, et vincula illius alligatura salutaris.

32Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.

33Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces: et si accommodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris.

34Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam: et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris.

35In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.

36Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus.

37Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto: et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.]

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.