The Word Am I

The Book of Jesus Sirach

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- Chapter 37 -

Of the choice of friends and counsellors.

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

Footnotes

(a)37:12 In the context of a merchant trying to sell his wares, the word ‘trajectione’ refers to exaggeration, to advertising hyperbole.(Conte)
(b)37:17 In this context, ‘delaturam’ does not refer to a fear of detraction if one does not mourn, but to a sinking down into bitterness, willingly, for a day or so, and then accepting consolation.(Conte)
(c)37:18 In this context ‘detractionem’ does not refer to slander or to the fear of detraction, but to a removal, that is, to a loss of a human person created by God. The reason for mourning is not fear of accusation, but because of the loss to the world.(Conte)

Of the choice of friends and counsellors.

1
Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name.
2
Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?
3
O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit?
4
There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him.
5
There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler.
6
Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches.
7
Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest.
8
Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you,
9
and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you.
10
Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.
11
Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.
12
But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail.
13
Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it.
14
For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower.
15
Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.
16
Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action.
17
As a token of the changing of the heart,
18
four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue.
19
There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
20
There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food.
21
For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
22
There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.
23
A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.
24
A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him will call him happy.
25
The life of a man is counted by days. The days of Israel are innumerable.
26
The wise man will inherit confidence among his people. His name will live forever.
27
My son, test your soul in your life. See what is evil for it, and don’t give in to it.
28
For not all things are profitable for all men. Not every soul has pleasure in everything.
29
Don’t be insatiable in any luxury. Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat.
30
For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea.
31
Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life.
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