The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 37

¹ Every friend saith I am his friend also but there is a friend which is only a friend in name ⚑

² Is it not a grief unto death when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy ⚑

³ O wicked imagination whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit ⚑

⁴ There is a companion which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend but in the time of trouble will be against him ⚑

⁵ There is a companion which helpeth his friend for the belly and taketh up the buckler against the enemy ⚑

⁶ Forget not thy friend in thy mind and be not unmindful of him in thy riches ⚑

⁷ Every counsellor extolleth counsel but there is some that counselleth for himself ⚑

⁸ Beware of a counsellor and know before what need he hath for he will counsel for himself lest he cast the lot upon thee ⚑

⁹ And say unto thee Thy way is good and afterward he stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee ⚑

¹⁰ Consult not with one that suspecteth thee and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee ⚑

¹¹ Neither 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 ⚑

¹² But 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 ⚑

¹³ And let the counsel of thine own heart stand for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it ⚑

¹⁴ Fo a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen that sit above in an high tower ⚑

¹⁵ And above all this pray to the most High that he will direct thy way in truth ⚑

¹⁶ Let reason go before every enterprize and counsel before every action ⚑

¹⁷ The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart ⚑

¹⁸ Four manner of things appear good and evil life and death but the tongue ruleth over them continually ⚑

¹⁹ There is one that is wise and teacheth many and yet is unprofitable to himself ⚑

²⁰ There is one that sheweth wisdom in words and is hated he shall be destitute of all food ⚑

²¹ For grace is not given him from the Lord because he is deprived of all wisdom ⚑

²² Another is wise to himself and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth ⚑

²³ A wise man instructeth his people and the fruits of his understanding fail not ⚑

²⁴ A wise man shall be filled with blessing and all they that see him shall count him happy ⚑

²⁵ The days of the life of man may be numbered but the days of Israel are innumerable ⚑

²⁶ A wise man shall inherit glory among his people and his name shall be perpetual ⚑

²⁷ My son prove thy soul in thy life and see what is evil for it and give not that unto it ⚑

²⁸ For all things are not profitable for all men neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing ⚑

²⁹ Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing nor too greedy upon meats ⚑

³⁰ For excess of meats bringeth sickness and surfeiting will turn into choler ⚑

³¹ By surfeiting have many perished but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life ⚑