Sirach 6

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the double-talking sinner.	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 Do not get carried aloft on the wings of passion, for fear your strength tear itself apart like a bul ,	2 Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength;
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 Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree,
4 An evil temper destroys the person who has it and makes him the laughing-stock of his enemies.	4 For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies.
5 A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.	5 A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.
6 Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand.	6 Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.
7 If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him;	7 When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him
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 one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.
9 Another kind of friend wil fal out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,	9 Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.
10 and a third kind of friend wil share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:	10 Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.
11 when you are doing well he wil be your second self, ordering your servants about;	11 When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants;
12 but, if disaster befal s you, he wil recoil from you and keep out of your way.	12 But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.
13 Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.	13 Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends.
14 A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.	14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.
15 A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.	15 A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
16 A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.	16 A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;
17 Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.	17 For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.
18 My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and til your hair is white you wil keep findingwisdom.	18 My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair.
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 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops.
20 How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless does not stay with her for long:	20 For in cultivating her you will labor but little, and soon you will 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 irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her.
22 for Wisdom is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.	22 She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside.
23 Listen, my child, and take my advice, do not reject my counsel:	23 For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many.
24 put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar;	24 Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel.
25 offer your shoulder to her burden, do not be impatient of her bonds;	25 Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke.
26 court her with al your soul, and with al your might keep in her ways;	26 Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds.
27 search for her, track her down: she wil reveal herself; once you hold her, do not let her go.	27 With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways.
28 For in the end you wil find rest in her and she wil take the form of joy for you:	28 Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go;
29 her fetters you will find a mighty defence, her col ars, a precious necklace.	29 Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy.
30 Her yoke wil be a golden ornament, and her bonds be purple ribbons;	30 Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord.
31 you wil wear her like a robe of honour, you wil put her on like a crown of joy.	31 You will wear her as your robe of glory, bear her as your splendid crown.
32 If you wish it, my child, you can be taught; apply yourself, and you will become intel igent.	32 My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd.
33 If you love listening, you will learn, if you pay attention, you will become wise.	33 If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.
34 Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.	34 Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him.
35 Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let wise proverbs escape you.	35 Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you.
36 If you see a man of understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.	36 If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep!
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 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.