Sirach 6

6And be not an enemy in place of a friend,

⁽For then⁽ wouldst thou get an evil name, and reproach, and shame;

So it is with an evil man who is double-tongued.

Be not a slave to thy passions,

Lest they consume thy strength like a bull;

Thy leaves will they eat up, and thy fruits will they destroy,

And they will leave thee as a dried-up tree.

For fierce passion destroyeth its possessor,

Andmaketh him the scorn of his enemy.

Gentle speech multiplieth friends,

And kindly wordsthose that give greeting.

Let those that are at peace with thee be many,

But thy confidant one in a thousand.

If thou makest a friend test him,

And be not in haste to trust him.

For there is a friend ⁽who is so⁽ according to occasion,

And continueth not in the day of affliction;

And there is a friend that turneth to an enemy,

And he revealeth strife to thy reproach.

And there is a friend who is a table-friend,

But he is not to be found in the day of affliction.

When thou art in prosperity he will be like thee,

And will lord it over thy servants.

If evil overtake thee he will turn against thee,

And will hide himself from thee.

Separate thyself from thine enemies,

And be on thy guard against thy friends.

A faithful friend is a strong defence,

And he that findeth him findeth a treasure.

A faithful friend is beyond price,

And his worth cannot be weighed.

A faithful friend is a ‘bundle of life’,

He that feareth God obtaineth him.

He that feareth the Lord directeth his friendship aright,

For as he is, so is his friend.

My son, receive instruction from thy youth up,

And even unto hoar hairsshalt thou find wisdom.

Draw nigh unto her as one that plougheth and soweth,

And wait for the abundance of her fruits.

For in cultivating her thou ^[needest to^[ toil but for a little,

For to-morrow shalt thou eat her fruits.

How harsh is she to the fool,

And he that is lacking in understanding cannot abide in her.

Upon him she is like a burdensome stone,

And he is not slow to cast her off.

For Wisdom is according to her name,

And to most men she is not manifest.

Hearken, my son, and receive my judgement,

And refuse not my counsel;

And bring thy feet into her fetters,

And thy neck into her chain.

Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her,

And chafe not under her bonds.

Draw nigh unto her with all thy heart,

And keep her ways with thy whole power.

Inquire and search, seek and find,

And take hold of her, and let her not go;

For at length thou wilt find her rest,

And she shall be turned for thee into gladness.

And her fetters shall become a stay of strength for thee,

And her bonds for robes of glory.

An ornament of gold is her yoke,

And her fetters a cord of blue.

Thou shalt array thee with her ⁽as with⁽ robes of glory,

And crown thee with her ⁽as with⁽ a crown of beauty.

My son, if thou desirest it thou shalt be made wise,

And if thou set thy heart ⁽thereon⁽, thou shalt learn prudence.

If thou desire to hear, thou shalt receive,

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

Stand thou in the assembly of the elders,

And whoso is wise, cleave unto him.

Desire to hear every discourse,

And let not a wise proverb escape thee.

Look for him who is wise, and seek him out earnestly,

And let thy foot wear out his threshold.

Meditate in the fear of the Most High,

And think upon His commandments continually;

Then will He instruct thine heart,

And He will make thee wise ⁽in that⁽ which thou desirest.