Sirach 37

37Every friend saith: I am a friend;

But there is a friend who is ⁽only⁽ friend in name.

Is there not ^[a sorrow^[that cometh nigh unto death—

A deeply loved friendwho changeth to an enemy?

O base nature! why then wast thou created,

To fillthe world’s facewith deceit!

Base is the friend who hath regard to ⁽one’s⁽ table,

But in the time of stress standeth aloof.

A good friend contendeth with ⁽one’s⁽ enemy,

And against adversaries holdeth the shield.

Forget not a comrade in conflict,

And forsake him not when thou takest spoil.

Every counsellor pointeth ⁽with⁽ the hand,

But there is he that counselleth a way to suit himself;

Beware of the counsellor,

And inform thyself beforehand what is his interest:

For he himself will also take thought:

‘Why should it fall out as he wishes?’

And will say to thee: How good is thy course!

And ⁽then⁽ stand off to watch thy misfortune.

Consult not with ^[those opposed to thee^[,

And hide thy counsel from him that is envious—

With a woman about her rival,

And from ^[an enemy^[about war with him;

With a merchant about business,

And from a buyer about selling;

With an evil-disposed manabout benevolence,

And a merciless man about human happiness;

⁽With⁽ the worthless workman about his work,

And the yearly hirelingabout the sowing of seed;

⁽With⁽ the idle slave about much work—

Put no trust in these for any counsel!

But rather with a man that feareth always,

Whom thou knowest to be a keeper of the Law;

Whose heart is at one with thine own,

Who, if thou stumblest, will be grieved for thee.

Do thou also take knowledge of the counsel of ⁽thine own⁽ heart,

For thou hast no one more true to thee.

The heart of a man telleth ⁽him⁽ his opportunities

Better than seven watchmen on a tower.

But in all this intreat God,

That He may direct thy steps in truth.

The beginning of every action is speech,

And before every work is the thought.

The roots of the heart’s deliberations

Bring forth four branches:

Good and evil, life and death;

But the tongue ruleth over them altogether.

There is a wise man who is wise for many

But for himself is a fool.

And there is a wise man who is loathed for his speech,

And is cut off from all enjoyment;

^[For winning grace has not been bestowed upon him from the Lord,

And he depriveth himself of all honour^[.

And there is a wise man who is wise for himself,

The fruit of whose understanding ⁽is⁽ upon his body.

And there is a wise man who is wise for his people,

The fruit of whose understanding is lasting.

The life of a man ⁽numbers⁽ days but few,

But the life of Jeshurun days innumerable.

Who is wise for himself shall have his fill of enjoyment,

And all who see him count him happy.

Who is wise ⁽for his⁽ people gaineth honour,

And his name abideth in life eternal.

My son, prove thy soul in thy life,

And see (that) what harmeth it thou give it not.

For not everything is good for every one—

Every soul maketh not its choice of every kind.

Indulge not excessin any enjoyment,

Nor immoderation in any dainties.

For in much eatingnesteth sickness,

And he that indulgeth excess cometh nigh to loathing.

By intemperance many have perished,

But he that is on his guard prolongeth life.