Sirach 37

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Every friend declares his friendship, but there are friends who are friends in name only.	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 sorrow unto death when your bosom companion becomes your enemy?	2 Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
3 "Alas, my companion! Why were you created to blanket the earth with deceit?"	3 O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?
4 A false friend will share your joys, but in time of trouble he stands afar off.	4 There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.
5 A true friend will fight with you against the foe, against your enemies he will be your shield-bearer.	5 There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.
6 Forget not your comrade during the battle, and neglect him not when you distribute your spoils.	6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
7 Every counselor points out a way, but some counsel ways of their own;	7 Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.
8 Be on the alert when one proffers advice, find out first of all what he wants. For he may be thinking of himself alone; why should the profit fall to him?	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 He may tell you how good your way will be, and then stand by to watch your misfortune.	9 And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
10 Seek no advice from one who regards you with hostility; from those who envy you, keep your intentions hidden.	10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
11 Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice they give.	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 Instead, associate with a religious man, who you are sure keeps the commandments; Who is like-minded with yourself and will feel for you if you fall.	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 Then, too, heed your own heart's counsel; for what have you that you can depend on more?	13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.
14 A man's conscience can tell him his situation better than seven watchmen in a lofty tower.	14 For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
15 Most important of all, pray to God to set your feet in the path of truth.	15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
16 A word is the source of every deed; a thought, of every act.	16 Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.
17 The root of all conduct is the mind; four branches it shoots forth:	17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
18 Good and evil, death and life, their absolute mistress is the tongue.	18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
19 A man may be wise and benefit many, yet be of no use to himself.	19 There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.
20 Though a man may be wise, if his words are rejected he will be deprived of all enjoyment.	20 There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.
21 When a man is wise to his own advantage, the fruits of his knowledge are seen in his own person;	21 For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
22 When a man is wise to his people's advantage, the fruits of his knowledge are enduring:	22 Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
23 Limited are the days of one man's life, but the life of Israel is days without number.	23 A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.
24 One wise for himself has full enjoyment, and all who see him praise him;	24 A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.
25 One wise for his people wins a heritage of glory, and his name endures forever.	25 The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
26 My son, while you are well, govern your appetite so that you allow it not what is bad for you;	26 A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
27 For not every food is good for everyone, nor is everything suited to every taste.	27 My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
28 Be not drawn after every enjoyment, neither become a glutton for choice foods,	28 For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.
29 For sickness comes with overeating, and gluttony brings on biliousness.	29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:
30 Through lack of self-control many have died, but the abstemious man prolongs his life.	30 For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.
	31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.