Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 37

¹Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name. ²Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy? ³O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit? ⁴There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him. ⁵There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy. ⁶Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches. ⁷Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself. ⁸Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,

⁹And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee. ¹⁰Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee. ¹¹Neither 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. ¹²But 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. ¹³And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it. ¹⁴For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower. ¹⁵And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth. ¹⁶Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.

¹⁷The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart. ¹⁸Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually. ¹⁹There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself. ²⁰There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food. ²¹For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom. ²²Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth. ²³A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not. ²⁴A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

²⁵The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable. ²⁶A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual. ²⁷My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it. ²⁸For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing. ²⁹Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats: ³⁰For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler. ³¹By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.