Sirach 6

NEW JERUSALEM	VULGATA
1 for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the double-talking sinner.	1 Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo : improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit : et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis.
2 Do not get carried aloft on the wings of passion, for fear your strength tear itself apart like a bul ,	2 Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam :
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 et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo.
4 An evil temper destroys the person who has it and makes him the laughing-stock of his enemies.	4 Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, et deducet in sortem impiorum.
5 A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.	5 Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat.
6 Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand.	6 Multi pacifici sint tibi : et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.
7 If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him;	7 Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, et ne facile credas ei.
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 Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, et non permanebit in die tribulationis.
9 Another kind of friend wil fal out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,	9 Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit.
10 and a third kind of friend wil share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:	10 Est autem amicus socius mensæ, et non permanebit in die necessitatis.
11 when you are doing well he wil be your second self, ordering your servants about;	11 Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget.
12 but, if disaster befal s you, he wil recoil from you and keep out of your way.	12 Si humiliaverit se contra te, et a facie tua absconderit se, unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam.
13 Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.	13 Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.
14 A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.	14 Amicus fidelis protectio fortis : qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum.
15 A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.	15 Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius.
16 A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.	16 Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis : et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum.
17 Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.	17 Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius.
18 My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and til your hair is white you wil keep findingwisdom.	18 Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam.
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 Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, et sustine bonos fructus illius.
20 How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless does not stay with her for long:	20 In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, et cito edes de generationibus illius.
21 she wil weigh as heavily on the senseless as a touchstone and such a person will lose no time inthrowing her off;	21 Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus ! et non permanebit in illa excors.
22 for Wisdom is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.	22 Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis : et non demorabuntur projicere illam.
23 Listen, my child, and take my advice, do not reject my counsel:	23 Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestata : quibus autem cognita est, permanet usque ad conspectum Dei.
24 put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar;	24 Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, et ne abjicias consilium meum.
25 offer your shoulder to her burden, do not be impatient of her bonds;	25 Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, et in torques illius collum tuum.
26 court her with al your soul, and with al your might keep in her ways;	26 Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedieris vinculis ejus.
27 search for her, track her down: she wil reveal herself; once you hold her, do not let her go.	27 In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus.
28 For in the end you wil find rest in her and she wil take the form of joy for you:	28 Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi : et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam :
29 her fetters you will find a mighty defence, her col ars, a precious necklace.	29 in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, et convertetur tibi in oblectationem.
30 Her yoke wil be a golden ornament, and her bonds be purple ribbons;	30 Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, et torques illius in stolam gloriæ :
31 you wil wear her like a robe of honour, you wil put her on like a crown of joy.	31 decor enim vitæ est in illa, et vincula illius alligatura salutaris.
32 If you wish it, my child, you can be taught; apply yourself, and you will become intel igent.	32 Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.
33 If you love listening, you will learn, if you pay attention, you will become wise.	33 Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces : et si accommodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris.
34 Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.	34 Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam : et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris.
35 Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let wise proverbs escape you.	35 In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.
36 If you see a man of understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.	36 Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus.
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 Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto : et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.