Sirach 6

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!"

² Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength;

³ Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree,

⁴ For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies.

⁵ A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.

⁶ Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.

⁷ When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him

⁸ For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.

⁹ Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.

¹⁰ Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.

¹¹ When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants;

¹² But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.

¹³ Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends.

¹⁴ A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.

¹⁵ A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.

¹⁶ A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;

¹⁷ For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.

¹⁸ My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair.

¹⁹ As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops.

²⁰ For in cultivating her you will labor but little, and soon you will eat of her fruits.

²¹ How irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her.

²² She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside.

²³ For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many.

²⁴ Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel.

²⁵ Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke.

²⁶ Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds.

²⁷ With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways.

²⁸ Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go;

²⁹ Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy.

³⁰ Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord.

³¹ You will wear her as your robe of glory, bear her as your splendid crown.

³² My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd.

³³ If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.

³⁴ Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him.

³⁵ Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you.

³⁶ If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep!

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.