Sirach 6

Instead of a friend become not an enemy;

For thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach:

Even so shall a sinner ^athat hath a double tongue.

^2bExtol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart;

That thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone.

³Thou shalt eat up thy leaves,

And lose thy fruit,

And leave thyself as ^ca dry tree.

⁴A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it,

And shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

^5dSweet language will multiply friends:

And a fair speaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

⁶Be in peace with many:

Nevertheless have but one counseller of a thousand.

⁷If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first,

And be not hasty to credit him.

⁸For some man is a friend for his own occasion,

And ^ewill not abide in the day of thy trouble.

⁹And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity and strife

Will discover thy reproach.

¹⁰Again, ^fsome friend is a companion at the table,

And ^ewill not continue in the day of thy affliction.

¹¹But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself,

And will be bold over thy servants.

¹²If thou be brought low, he will be against thee,

And will hide himself from thy face.

¹³Separate thyself from thine enemies,

And ^gtake heed of ^hthy friends.

¹⁴A faithful friend is a strong defence:

And he that hath found such a one hath found a treasure.

¹⁵Nothing doth ⁱcountervail a faithful friend,

And his excellency is unvaluable.

¹⁶A faithful friend is the medicine of life;

And they that fear the Lord shall find him.

¹⁷Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright:

For as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

¹⁸My son, gather instruction ^kfrom thy youth up:

So shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

¹⁹Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth,

And ^lwait for her good fruits:

For ^mthou shalt not toil much in labouring about her,

But thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

²⁰ⁿShe is very unpleasant to the unlearned:

He that is without understanding will not remain with her.

²¹She will lie upon him as ^oa mighty stone of trial;

And he will cast her from him ere it be long.

²²For wisdom is ^paccording to her name,

And she is not manifest unto many.

²³Give ear, my son, receive my advice,

And refuse not my counsel,

²⁴And put thy feet into her fetters,

And thy neck into her chain.

^25qBow down thy shoulder, And bear her,

And be not grieved with her bonds.

²⁶Come unto her ^rwith thy whole heart,

And keep her ways ^rwith all thy power.

²⁷Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee:

And when ^sthou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

²⁸For ^tat the last thou shalt ^ufind her rest,

And that shall be turned to thy joy.

²⁹Then shall ^wher fetters be a strong defence for thee,

And ^wher chains a robe of glory.

³⁰For there is a golden ornament upon her,

And her bands are purple lace.

³¹Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour,

And shalt put her about thee as ^xa crown of joy.

³²My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught:

And if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be ^yprudent.

³³If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding:

And if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise.

³⁴Stand in the multitude of the ^zelders;

And cleave unto him that is wise.

³⁵Be willing to hear every godly discourse;

And let not the ^aparables of understanding escape thee.

³⁶And if thou seest a man of understanding, ^bget thee betimes unto him,

And let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

³⁷Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord,

And ^cmeditate continually in his commandments:

^dHe shall establish thine heart,

And give thee wisdom at thine own desire.

VII.