Siracide 37

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Omnis amicus dicet: “ Et ego amicitiam copulavi! ”; sed est amicus solo nomine amicus. Nonne tristitia appropinquans usque ad mortem:	1 Any friend wil say, 'I am your friend too,' but some friends are friends only in name.
2 sodalis et amicus ad inimicitiam conversus?	2 Is it not a deadly sorrow when a comrade or a friend turns enemy?
3 O praesumptio nequissima, unde creata es cooperire aridam malitia et dolositate illius?	3 O evil inclination, why were you created, to cover the earth with deceit?
4 Sodalis amico coniucundatur in oblectationibus et in tempore tribulationis adversarius erit;	4 One kind of comrade congratulates a friend in prosperity but in time of trouble appears on the otherside.
5 sodalis amico condolet causa ventris et contra hostem accipiet scutum.	5 One kind of comrade genuinely feels for a friend and when it comes to a fight, springs to arms.
6 Non obliviscaris amici tui in animo tuo et non immemor sis illius in opibus tuis.	6 Do not forget the genuine friend, do not push him out of mind once you are rich.
7 Noli consiliari cum eo, qui tibi insidiatur, et a zelantibus te absconde consilium.	7 Any adviser wil offer advice, but some are governed by self-interest.
8 Omnis consiliarius prodit consilium, sed est consiliarius pro semetipso.	8 Beware of someone who offers advice; first find out what he wants himself- since his advice coincideswith his own interest -- in case he has designs on you
9 A consiliario serva animam tuam et prius scito quae sit illius necessitas ­ et ipse enim animo suo cogitabit ­	9 and tel s you, 'You are on the right road,' but stands wel clear to see what will happen to you.
10 ne forte mittat super te sortem et dicat tibi:	10 Do not consult anyone who looks at you askance, conceal your plans from people jealous of you.
11 “ Bona est via tua ” et stet e contrario videre quid tibi eveniat.	11 Do not consult a woman about her rival, or a coward about war, a merchant about prices, or a buyerabout sel ing, anyone mean about gratitude, or anyone selfish about kindness, a lazy fel ow about any sort ofwork, or a casual worker about finishing a job, an idle servant about a major undertaking -- do not rely on thesefor any advice.
12 Noli consiliari cum invido et a zelante te consilium absconde; nec cum muliere de ea, quae ei aemulatur, cum timido de bello, cum negotiatore de traiecticio, cum emptore de venditione, cum viro livido de gratiis agendis,	12 But have constant recourse to some devout person, whom you know to be a keeper of thecommandments, whose soul matches your own, and who, if you go wrong, wil be sympathetic.
13 cum impio de pietate, cum inhonesto de honestate, cum operario otioso de omni opere,	13 Finally, stick to the advice your own heart gives you, no one can be truer to you than that;
14 cum mercennario annuali de consummatione anni, cum servo pigro de multa operatione: non attendas his in omni consilio.	14 since a person's soul often gives a clearer warning than seven watchmen perched on a watchtower.
15 Sed cum viro timorato assiduus esto, quemcumque cognoveris observantem mandata,	15 And besides all this beg the Most High to guide your steps into the truth.
16 cuius anima est secundum animam tuam, et qui, cum titubaveris in tenebris, condolebit tibi.	16 Reason should be the basis for every activity, reflection must come before any undertaking.
17 Et consilium cordis statue tecum; non est enim tibi aliud fidelius illo.	17 Thoughts are rooted in the heart, and this sends out four branches:
18 Anima viri enuntiat aliquando vera quam septem circumspectores sedentes in excelso ad speculandum.	18 good and evil, life and death, and mistress of them always is the tongue.
19 Et in his omnibus deprecare Altissimum, ut dirigat in veritate viam tuam.	19 One kind of person is clever at teaching others, yet is no good whatever to himself;
20 Ante omnia opera verbum verax praecedat te, et ante omnem actum consilium stabile.	20 another, very eloquent, is detested and ends by starving to death,
21 Radix consiliorum cor, ex quo partes quattuor oriuntur: bonum et malum, vita et mors; et dominatrix illorum est assidua lingua.	21 not having won the favour of the Lord, and being destitute of al wisdom.
22 Est vir peritus multorum eruditor et animae suae inutilis est.	22 Another considers himself wise and proclaims his intel ectual conclusions as certainties.
23 Est qui sophistice loquitur et odibilis est; in omni cibo voluptatis defraudabitur.	23 But the truly wise instructs his people and his intel ectual conclusions are certainties.
24 Non est illi data a Domino gratia: omni enim sapientia defraudatus est.	24 The wise is showered with blessings, and al who see him wil cal him happy.
25 Est sapiens animae suae sapiens, et fructus sensus illius super corpus suum.	25 Human life lasts a number of days, but the days of Israel are beyond counting.
26 Vir sapiens plebem suam erudit, et fructus sensus illius fideles sunt.	26 The wise wil earn confidence among the people, his name wil live for ever.
27 Vir sapiens implebitur benedictionibus, et omnes videntes illum beatum dicent.	27 During your life, my child, see what suits your constitution, do not give it what you find disagrees withit;
28 Vita viri in numero dierum; dies autem Israel innumerabiles sunt.	28 for not everything is good for everybody, nor does everybody like everything.
29 Sapiens in populo hereditabit honorem, et nomen illius erit vivens in aeternum.	29 Do not be insatiable for any delicacy, do not be greedy for food,
30 Fili, in vita tua tenta animam tuam et vide si quid obnoxium ei est: non des illi.	30 for over-eating leads to illness and excess leads to liver-attacks.
31 Non enim omnia omnibus expediunt, et non omni animae omne genus placet.	31 Many people have died from over-eating; control yourself, and so prolong your life.
32 Noli avidus esse in omni epulatione et non te effundas super omnem escam.
33 In multis enim escis erit infirmitas, et aviditas appropinquabit usque ad choleram.
34 Propter crapulam multi obierunt; qui autem abstinens est, adiciet vitam.