Sirach 37

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New American Bible	Douai-Rheims
¹ Every friend declares his friendship, but there are friends who are friends in name only.	¹ Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?
² Is it not a sorrow unto death when your bosom companion becomes your enemy?	² But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.
³ "Alas, my companion! Why were you created to blanket the earth with deceit?"	³ O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?
⁴ A false friend will share your joys, but in time of trouble he stands afar off.	⁴ There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.
⁵ A true friend will fight with you against the foe, against your enemies he will be your shield-bearer.	⁵ There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.
⁶ Forget not your comrade during the battle, and neglect him not when you distribute your spoils.	⁶ Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
⁷ Every counselor points out a way, but some counsel ways of their own;	⁷ Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
⁸ Be on the alert when one proffers advice, find out first of all what he wants. For he may be thinking of himself alone; why should the profit fall to him?	⁸ Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.
⁹ He may tell you how good your way will be, and then stand by to watch your misfortune.	⁹ Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:
¹⁰ Seek no advice from one who regards you with hostility; from those who envy you, keep your intentions hidden.	¹⁰ Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
¹¹ Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice they give.	¹¹ Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.
¹² Instead, associate with a religious man, who you are sure keeps the commandments; Who is like-minded with yourself and will feel for you if you fall.	¹² Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,
¹³ Then, too, heed your own heart's counsel; for what have you that you can depend on more?	¹³ Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work
¹⁴ A man's conscience can tell him his situation better than seven watchmen in a lofty tower.	¹⁴ Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.
¹⁵ Most important of all, pray to God to set your feet in the path of truth.	¹⁵ But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
¹⁶ A word is the source of every deed; a thought, of every act.	¹⁶ Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
¹⁷ The root of all conduct is the mind; four branches it shoots forth:	¹⁷ And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
¹⁸ Good and evil, death and life, their absolute mistress is the tongue.	¹⁸ The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to watch.
¹⁹ A man may be wise and benefit many, yet be of no use to himself.	¹⁹ But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.
²⁰ Though a man may be wise, if his words are rejected he will be deprived of all enjoyment.	²⁰ In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.
²¹ When a man is wise to his own advantage, the fruits of his knowledge are seen in his own person;	²¹ A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
²² When a man is wise to his people's advantage, the fruits of his knowledge are enduring:	²² A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.
²³ Limited are the days of one man's life, but the life of Israel is days without number.	²³ He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.
²⁴ One wise for himself has full enjoyment, and all who see him praise him;	²⁴ Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.
²⁵ One wise for his people wins a heritage of glory, and his name endures forever.	²⁵ There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.
²⁶ My son, while you are well, govern your appetite so that you allow it not what is bad for you;	²⁶ A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.
²⁷ For not every food is good for everyone, nor is everything suited to every taste.	²⁷ A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.
²⁸ Be not drawn after every enjoyment, neither become a glutton for choice foods,	²⁸ The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
²⁹ For sickness comes with overeating, and gluttony brings on biliousness.	²⁹ A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.
³⁰ Through lack of self-control many have died, but the abstemious man prolongs his life.	³⁰ My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:
	³¹ For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.
	³² Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:
	³³ For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.
	³⁴ By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.

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