Sirach 37

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Any friend wil say, 'I am your friend too,' but some friends are friends only in name.	1 Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.
2 Is it not a deadly sorrow when a comrade or a friend turns enemy?	2 Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
3 O evil inclination, why were you created, to cover the earth with deceit?	3 O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?
4 One kind of comrade congratulates a friend in prosperity but in time of trouble appears on the otherside.	4 There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.
5 One kind of comrade genuinely feels for a friend and when it comes to a fight, springs to arms.	5 There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.
6 Do not forget the genuine friend, do not push him out of mind once you are rich.	6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
7 Any adviser wil offer advice, but some are governed by self-interest.	7 Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.
8 Beware of someone who offers advice; first find out what he wants himself- since his advice coincideswith his own interest -- in case he has designs on you	8 Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,
9 and tel s you, 'You are on the right road,' but stands wel clear to see what will happen to you.	9 And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
10 Do not consult anyone who looks at you askance, conceal your plans from people jealous of you.	10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
11 Do not consult a woman about her rival, or a coward about war, a merchant about prices, or a buyerabout sel ing, anyone mean about gratitude, or anyone selfish about kindness, a lazy fel ow about any sort ofwork, or a casual worker about finishing a job, an idle servant about a major undertaking -- do not rely on thesefor any advice.	11 Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
12 But have constant recourse to some devout person, whom you know to be a keeper of thecommandments, whose soul matches your own, and who, if you go wrong, wil be sympathetic.	12 But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.
13 Finally, stick to the advice your own heart gives you, no one can be truer to you than that;	13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.
14 since a person's soul often gives a clearer warning than seven watchmen perched on a watchtower.	14 For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
15 And besides all this beg the Most High to guide your steps into the truth.	15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
16 Reason should be the basis for every activity, reflection must come before any undertaking.	16 Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.
17 Thoughts are rooted in the heart, and this sends out four branches:	17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
18 good and evil, life and death, and mistress of them always is the tongue.	18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
19 One kind of person is clever at teaching others, yet is no good whatever to himself;	19 There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.
20 another, very eloquent, is detested and ends by starving to death,	20 There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.
21 not having won the favour of the Lord, and being destitute of al wisdom.	21 For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
22 Another considers himself wise and proclaims his intel ectual conclusions as certainties.	22 Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
23 But the truly wise instructs his people and his intel ectual conclusions are certainties.	23 A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.
24 The wise is showered with blessings, and al who see him wil cal him happy.	24 A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.
25 Human life lasts a number of days, but the days of Israel are beyond counting.	25 The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
26 The wise wil earn confidence among the people, his name wil live for ever.	26 A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
27 During your life, my child, see what suits your constitution, do not give it what you find disagrees withit;	27 My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
28 for not everything is good for everybody, nor does everybody like everything.	28 For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.
29 Do not be insatiable for any delicacy, do not be greedy for food,	29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:
30 for over-eating leads to illness and excess leads to liver-attacks.	30 For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.
31 Many people have died from over-eating; control yourself, and so prolong your life.	31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.