Sirach 37

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 But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.

³ O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?

⁴ A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.

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 You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.

⁷ Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.

⁸ Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.

⁹ Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.

¹⁰ Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:

¹¹ “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.

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 nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,

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 But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,

¹⁶ whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.

¹⁷ And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.

¹⁸ At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.

¹⁹ But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.

²⁰ In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.

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 A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.

²³ Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.

²⁴ Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.

²⁵ There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.

²⁶ A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.

²⁷ A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.

²⁸ The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.

²⁹ A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.

³⁰ Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.

³¹ For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.

³² Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.

³³ For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.

³⁴ By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.