Sirach 6

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the double-talking sinner.	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 Do not get carried aloft on the wings of passion, for fear your strength tear itself apart like a bul ,	2 Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,
3 and you devour your own foliage and destroy your own fruit and end by making yourself like a piece of dried-up wood.	3 And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
4 An evil temper destroys the person who has it and makes him the laughing-stock 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 kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.	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 for advisers choose one out of a thousand.	6 Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.
7 If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry 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 kind of friend is so only when it suits him but wil not stand by you in your day of trouble.	8 For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9 Another kind of friend wil fal out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,	9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.
10 and a third kind of friend wil share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:	10 And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.
11 when you are doing well he wil be your second self, ordering your servants about;	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 disaster befal s you, he wil recoil from you and keep out of your way.	12 If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
13 Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.	13 Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
14 A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.	14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
15 A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring 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 loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.	16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
17 Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.	17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
18 My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and til your hair is white you wil keep findingwisdom.	18 My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
19 Like ploughman and sower, cultivate her and wait for her fine harvest, for in tilling her you wil toil a littlewhile, but very soon you wil be eating her crops.	19 Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
20 How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless does not stay with her for long:	20 For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
21 she wil weigh as heavily on the senseless as a touchstone and such a person will lose no time inthrowing her off;	21 How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.
22 for Wisdom is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.	22 She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.
23 Listen, my child, and take my advice, do not reject my counsel:	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 put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar;	24 Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.
25 offer your shoulder to her burden, do not be impatient of her bonds;	25 Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
26 court her with al your soul, and with al your might keep in her ways;	26 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.
27 search for her, track her down: she wil reveal herself; once you hold her, do not let her go.	27 Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.
28 For in the end you wil find rest in her and she wil take the form of joy for you:	28 Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
29 her fetters you will find a mighty defence, her col ars, a precious necklace.	29 For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.
30 Her yoke wil be a golden ornament, and her bonds be purple ribbons;	30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
31 you wil wear her like a robe of honour, you wil put her on like a crown of joy.	31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.
32 If you wish it, my child, you can be taught; apply yourself, and you will become intel igent.	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 love listening, you will learn, if you pay attention, you will become 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 Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.	34 If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
35 Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let wise proverbs 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 understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out 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 injunctions of the Lord, busy yourself at al times with his commandments. He wilstrengthen your mind, and the wisdom you desire will be granted you.	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.