Sirach

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. ↗