The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 37 -

Of the choice of friends and counsellors.

Every 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treat 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,

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

Nor 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Of the choice of friends and counsellors.

Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name.

Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?

O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit?

There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him.

There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler.

Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches.

Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest.

Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you,

and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you.

Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.

Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.

But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail.

Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it.

For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower.

Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.

Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action.

As a token of the changing of the heart,

four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue.

There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food.

For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.

A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.

A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him will call him happy.

The life of a man is counted by days. The days of Israel are innumerable.

The wise man will inherit confidence among his people. His name will live forever.

My son, test your soul in your life. See what is evil for it, and don’t give in to it.

For not all things are profitable for all men. Not every soul has pleasure in everything.

Don’t be insatiable in any luxury. Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat.

For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea.

Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life.