Sirach 6

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
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.	1 for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the double-talking sinner.
2 Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,	2 Do not get carried aloft on the wings of passion, for fear your strength tear itself apart like a bul ,
3 And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.	3 and you devour your own foliage and destroy your own fruit and end by making yourself like a piece of dried-up wood.
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.	4 An evil temper destroys the person who has it and makes him the laughing-stock of his enemies.
5 A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.	5 A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.
6 Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.	6 Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand.
7 If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.	7 If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him;
8 For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.	8 for one kind of friend is so only when it suits him but wil not stand by you in your day of trouble.
9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.	9 Another kind of friend wil fal out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,
10 And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.	10 and a third kind of friend wil share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:
11 A friend ii he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.	11 when you are doing well he wil be your second self, ordering your servants about;
12 If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.	12 but, if disaster befal s you, he wil recoil from you and keep out of your way.
13 Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.	13 Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.	14 A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.
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.	15 A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.
16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.	16 A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.
17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.	17 Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.
18 My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.	18 My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and til your hair is white you wil keep findingwisdom.
19 Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:	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.
20 For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.	20 How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless does not stay with her for long:
21 How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.	21 she wil weigh as heavily on the senseless as a touchstone and such a person will lose no time inthrowing her off;
22 She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.	22 for Wisdom is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.
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.	23 Listen, my child, and take my advice, do not reject my counsel:
24 Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.	24 put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar;
25 Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:	25 offer your shoulder to her burden, do not be impatient of her bonds;
26 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.	26 court her with al your soul, and with al your might keep in her ways;
27 Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.	27 search for her, track her down: she wil reveal herself; once you hold her, do not let her go.
28 Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:	28 For in the end you wil find rest in her and she wil take the form of joy for you:
29 For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.	29 her fetters you will find a mighty defence, her col ars, a precious necklace.
30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:	30 Her yoke wil be a golden ornament, and her bonds be purple ribbons;
31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.	31 you wil wear her like a robe of honour, you wil put her on like a crown of joy.
32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.	32 If you wish it, my child, you can be taught; apply yourself, and you will become intel igent.
33 My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.	33 If you love listening, you will learn, if you pay attention, you will become wise.
34 If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.	34 Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.
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.	35 Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let wise proverbs escape you.
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.	36 If you see a man of understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.
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.	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.