Sirach 6

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued.
2 Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength;	2 You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness,
3 Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree,	3 which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert.
4 For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies.	4 For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious.
5 A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.	5 A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man.
6 Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.	6 Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor.
7 When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him	7 If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily.
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 according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation.
9 Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.	9 And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults.
10 Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.	10 And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need.
11 When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants;	11 A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household.
12 But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.	12 If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship.
13 Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends.	13 Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.	14 A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure.
15 A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.	15 Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than 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 a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one.
17 For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.	17 He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him.
18 My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair.	18 Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs.
19 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops.	19 Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then 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 doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce.
21 How irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her.	21 How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her.
22 She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside.	22 She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay.
23 For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many.	23 For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God.
24 Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel.	24 Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice.
25 Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke.	25 Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains.
26 Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds.	26 Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings.
27 With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways.	27 Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength.
28 Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go;	28 Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her.
29 Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy.	29 For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight.
30 Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord.	30 Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be 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 bindings are a healing bandage.
32 My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd.	32 You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing.
33 If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.	33 Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise.
34 Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him.	34 If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise.
35 Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you.	35 Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you.
36 If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep!	36 And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down 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 Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you.