Siracide 37

NOVA VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Omnis amicus dicet: “ Et ego amicitiam copulavi! ”; sed est amicus solo nomine amicus. Nonne tristitia appropinquans usque ad mortem:	1 Every friend will say: “I also am a close friend.” But there is a friend who is a friend in name only. Is this not a grief even unto death?
2 sodalis et amicus ad inimicitiam conversus?	2 But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.
3 O praesumptio nequissima, unde creata es cooperire aridam malitia et dolositate illius?	3 O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?
4 Sodalis amico coniucundatur in oblectationibus et in tempore tribulationis adversarius erit;	4 A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.
5 sodalis amico condolet causa ventris et contra hostem accipiet scutum.	5 There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.
6 Non obliviscaris amici tui in animo tuo et non immemor sis illius in opibus tuis.	6 You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.
7 Noli consiliari cum eo, qui tibi insidiatur, et a zelantibus te absconde consilium.	7 Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.
8 Omnis consiliarius prodit consilium, sed est consiliarius pro semetipso.	8 Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.
9 A consiliario serva animam tuam et prius scito quae sit illius necessitas ­ et ipse enim animo suo cogitabit ­	9 Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.
10 ne forte mittat super te sortem et dicat tibi:	10 Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:
11 “ Bona est via tua ” et stet e contrario videre quid tibi eveniat.	11 “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.
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 Do not discuss holiness with an irreligious man, nor justice with one who is unjust. You should not speak with a woman about her who is a rival, nor with a coward about war, nor with a merchant about exaggeration, nor with a buyer about selling, nor with a spiteful man about giving thanks,
13 cum impio de pietate, cum inhonesto de honestate, cum operario otioso de omni opere,	13 nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,
14 cum mercennario annuali de consummatione anni, cum servo pigro de multa operatione: non attendas his in omni consilio.	14 nor with a worker hired for a year about the end of the year, nor with a lazy servant about great works. You should pay no heed to these persons in any matter of counsel.
15 Sed cum viro timorato assiduus esto, quemcumque cognoveris observantem mandata,	15 But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,
16 cuius anima est secundum animam tuam, et qui, cum titubaveris in tenebris, condolebit tibi.	16 whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.
17 Et consilium cordis statue tecum; non est enim tibi aliud fidelius illo.	17 And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.
18 Anima viri enuntiat aliquando vera quam septem circumspectores sedentes in excelso ad speculandum.	18 At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.
19 Et in his omnibus deprecare Altissimum, ut dirigat in veritate viam tuam.	19 But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.
20 Ante omnia opera verbum verax praecedat te, et ante omnem actum consilium stabile.	20 In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.
21 Radix consiliorum cor, ex quo partes quattuor oriuntur: bonum et malum, vita et mors; et dominatrix illorum est assidua lingua.	21 A wicked word can change the heart. From the heart four kinds of things arise: good and evil, life and death. And the tongue is continually their ruler. There is a man who is an astute teacher of many, and yet this is useless to his own soul.
22 Est vir peritus multorum eruditor et animae suae inutilis est.	22 A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.
23 Est qui sophistice loquitur et odibilis est; in omni cibo voluptatis defraudabitur.	23 Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.
24 Non est illi data a Domino gratia: omni enim sapientia defraudatus est.	24 Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.
25 Est sapiens animae suae sapiens, et fructus sensus illius super corpus suum.	25 There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.
26 Vir sapiens plebem suam erudit, et fructus sensus illius fideles sunt.	26 A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.
27 Vir sapiens implebitur benedictionibus, et omnes videntes illum beatum dicent.	27 A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.
28 Vita viri in numero dierum; dies autem Israel innumerabiles sunt.	28 The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.
29 Sapiens in populo hereditabit honorem, et nomen illius erit vivens in aeternum.	29 A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.
30 Fili, in vita tua tenta animam tuam et vide si quid obnoxium ei est: non des illi.	30 Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.
31 Non enim omnia omnibus expediunt, et non omni animae omne genus placet.	31 For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.
32 Noli avidus esse in omni epulatione et non te effundas super omnem escam.	32 Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.
33 In multis enim escis erit infirmitas, et aviditas appropinquabit usque ad choleram.	33 For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.
34 Propter crapulam multi obierunt; qui autem abstinens est, adiciet vitam.	34 By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.