Ecclesiasticus, 6

1. Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

1. Just as the wicked man inherits confusion and shame so will the sinner accustomed to lying.

2. Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]

2. Do not give yourself over to your passions; they will turn against you and, like a bull, tear you to pieces.

3. Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

3. They will devour the foliage and destroy the fruit, leaving you like a dry stump.

4. A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

4. An evil passion will destroy the one who is held in its power; it will make him the laughingstock of his enemies.

5. Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

5. A gentle word makes many friends, an agreeable tongue calls forth gracious replies.

6. Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

6. Let your friends be many; but your counselors, one in a thousand!

7. If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

7. If you would gain a friend, begin by testing him and do not put your confidence in him too quickly.

8. For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

8. For there is the friend who is such when it suits him but he does not remain faithful in the time of your adversity.

9. And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.

9. There is the friend who becomes an enemy and, to your confusion, makes known why you quarreled.

10. Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

10. There is the friend who shares your table but does not remain faithful when things go against you.

11. But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

11. In times of prosperity he will be like your shadow and he will speak freely to those of your household.

12. If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.

12. But if you are humiliated, he will turn against you and will avoid meeting you.

13. Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

13. Distance yourself from your enemies and be careful about your friends.

14. A faithfu1l friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.

14. The faithful friend is a secure refuge; whoever has found one has found a treasure.

15. Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

15. A faithful friend is beyond all price; hold him as priceless.

16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.

16. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, and those who fear the Lord will find one.

17. Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

17. Whoever fears the Lord will make true friends for, as a man is, such will his friend be.

18. My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

18. My son, dedicate yourself to learning from your youth, and you will grow in wisdom until old age.

19. Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

19. Work at it like the worker and the sower, cultivate wisdom and wait for her excellent fruits. For in cultivating her you will have some trouble, but soon you will enjoy her fruits.

20. She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

20. Wisdom is very severe with the ignorant. A foolish man will not persevere.

21. She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

21. She will be like a heavy weight or a difficult test which he will quickly throw away.

22. For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.

22. For wisdom brings her own honor, she does not reveal herself to everyone.

23. Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

23. Listen, my son, and receive my teaching, do not reject my counsel.

24. And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.

24. Put her constraints on your feet and her yoke on your neck.

25. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

25. Put your shoulder to the burden and bear her yoke; do not rebel against her chains.

26. Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.

26. Come to her with all your soul and with all your strength observe her ways.

27. Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

27. Pursue her, search for her, she will make herself known to you; when you have her, do not let her go.

28. For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

28. For, in the end, you will find in her your rest and she will become your joy.

29. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

29. Her constraints will strengthen your steps and her collar will be like a glorious garment.

30. For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

30. Her yoke will become an ornament of gold and her chains like precious girdles of hyacinth blue.

31. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.

31. You will adorn yourself as with a garment of glory and you will put her on like a crown of jubilation.

32. My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.

32. If you wish, my son, you will be learned; if you pay attention, you will become clever.

33. If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,

33. If you love to listen, you will learn; if you really pay attention, you will become wise.

34. Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

34. Be on your guard in the assembly of the elders and if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.

35. Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

35. Be willing to listen to all discourses on divine things, and do not let the sayings of the wise escape you.

36. And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

36. If you see an intelligent man, follow him from daybreak and let your feet beat a pathway to his door.

37. Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.

37. Meditate on the precepts of the Lord and apply yourself unceasingly to his commandments. He will strengthen your heart and the wisdom you desire will be given to you.