Ecclesiasticus / Sirach - Chapter 6

¹ for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the double-talking sinner.

² Do not get carried aloft on the wings of passion, for fear your strength tear itself apart like a bull,

³ and you devour your own foliage and destroy your own fruit and end by making yourself like a piece of dried-up wood.

⁴ An evil temper destroys the person who has it and makes him the laughing-stock of his enemies.

⁵ A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.

⁶ Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand.

⁷ If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him;

⁸ for one kind of friend is so only when it suits him but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.

⁹ Another kind of friend will fall out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,

¹⁰ and a third kind of friend will share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:

¹¹ when you are doing well he will be your second self, ordering your servants about;

¹² but, if disaster befalls you, he will recoil from you and keep out of your way.

¹³ Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.

¹⁴ A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.

¹⁵ A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.

¹⁶ A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.

¹⁷ Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.

¹⁸ My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and till your hair is white you will keep finding wisdom.

¹⁹ Like ploughman and sower, cultivate her and wait for her fine harvest, for in tilling her you will toil a little while, but very soon you will be eating her crops.

²⁰ How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless does not stay with her for long:

²¹ she will weigh as heavily on the senseless as a touchstone and such a person will lose no time in throwing her off;

²² for Wisdom is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.

²³ Listen, my child, and take my advice, do not reject my counsel:

²⁴ put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar;

²⁵ offer your shoulder to her burden, do not be impatient of her bonds;

²⁶ court her with all your soul, and with all your might keep in her ways;

²⁷ search for her, track her down: she will reveal herself; once you hold her, do not let her go.

²⁸ For in the end you will find rest in her and she will take the form of joy for you:

²⁹ her fetters you will find a mighty defence, her collars, a precious necklace.

³⁰ Her yoke will be a golden ornament, and her bonds be purple ribbons;

³¹ you will wear her like a robe of honour, you will put her on like a crown of joy.

³² If you wish it, my child, you can be taught; apply yourself, and you will become intelligent.

³³ If you love listening, you will learn, if you pay attention, you will become wise.

³⁴ Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.

³⁵ Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let wise proverbs escape you.

³⁶ If you see a man of understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.

³⁷ Reflect on the injunctions of the Lord, busy yourself at all times with his commandments. He will strengthen your mind, and the wisdom you desire will be granted you.

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