Sirach 6

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Say nothing harmful, small or great; be not a foe instead of a friend; A bad name and disgrace will you acquire: "That for the evil man with double tongue!"	1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.
2 Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength;	2 Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,
3 Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree,	3 And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
4 For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies.	4 For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.
5 A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.	5 A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
6 Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.	6 Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.
7 When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him	7 If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.
8 For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.	8 For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9 Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.	9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.
10 Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.	10 And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.
11 When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants;	11 A friend ii he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.
12 But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.	12 If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
13 Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends.	13 Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.	14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
15 A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.	15 Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;	16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
17 For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.	17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
18 My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair.	18 My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
19 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops.	19 Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
20 For in cultivating her you will labor but little, and soon you will eat of her fruits.	20 For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
21 How irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her.	21 How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.
22 She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside.	22 She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.
23 For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many.	23 For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.
24 Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel.	24 Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.
25 Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke.	25 Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
26 Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds.	26 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.
27 With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways.	27 Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.
28 Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go;	28 Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
29 Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy.	29 For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.
30 Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord.	30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
31 You will wear her as your robe of glory, bear her as your splendid crown.	31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.
32 My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd.	32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.
33 If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.	33 My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
34 Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him.	34 If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
35 Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you.	35 Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.
36 If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep!	36 And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
37 Reflect on the precepts of the LORD, let his commandments be your constant meditation; Then he will enlighten your mind, and the wisdom you desire he will grant.	37 Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.