The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

Of true and false friends: and of the of the fruits of wisdom.

Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue.

Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull.

You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree.

A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies.

Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies.

Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand.

If you want to gain a friend, get him in a time of testing, and don’t be in a hurry to trust him.

For there is a friend just for an occasion. He won’t continue in the day of your affliction.

And there is a friend who turns into an enemy. He will discover strife to your reproach.

And there is a friend who is a companion at the table, but he won’t continue in the day of your affliction.

In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.

If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.

Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.

A faithful friend is a strong defense. He who has found him has found a treasure.

There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend. His excellency is beyond price.

A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him.

He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly; for as he is, so is his neighbor also.

My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.

Come to her as one who plows and sows and wait for her good fruit; for your toil will be little in her cultivation, and you will soon eat of her fruit.

How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.

She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial. He won’t hesitate to cast her from him.

For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many.

Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel.

Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.

Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds.

Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power.

Search and seek, and she will be made known to you. When you get hold of her, don’t let her go.

For at the last you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness.

Her fetters will be to you for a covering of strength, and her chains for a robe of glory.

For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are (a) a purple cord.

You shall put her on as a robe of glory, and shall put her on as a crown of rejoicing.

My son, if you are willing, you will be instructed. If you will yield your soul, you will be prudent.

If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise.

Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise.

Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.

If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.

Let your mind dwell on the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually on his commandments. He will establish your heart and your desire for wisdom will be given to you.

Footnotes

(a)6:30 ℘ Numbers 15:38

Of true and false friends: and of the of the fruits of wisdom.

Instead 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Come 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let 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.