Liber Ecclesiasticus, 37

1. omnis amicus dicet et ego amicitiam copulavi sed est amicus solo nomine amicus nonne tristitia inest usque ad mortem

1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?

2. sodalis autem et amicus ad inimicitiam convertentur

2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.

3. o præsumptio nequissima unde creata es cooperire aridam malitiam et dolositatem illius

3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?

4. sodalis amico coniucundatur in oblectatione et in tempore tribulationis adversarius erit

4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.

5. sodalis amico condolet causa ventris et contra hostem accipiet scutum

5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.

6. non obliviscaris amici tui in animo tuo et non inmemor sis illius in operibus tuis

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

7. noli consiliari cum socero tuo et a zelantibus te absconde consilium

7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.

8. omnis consiliarius prodit consilium sed est consiliarius in semet ipso

8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.

9. a consiliario serva animam tuam prius scito quæ sit illius necessitas et ipse enim animo suo cogitabit

9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:

10. ne forte mittat sudem in terram et dicat tibi

10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:

11. bona est via tua et stet e contrario videre quid tibi eveniat

11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.

12. cum viro inreligioso tracta de sanctitate et cum iniusto de justitia et cum muliere de ea quæ æmulatur cum timido de bello cum negotiatore de trajecticio cum emptore de venditione cum viro livido de gratiis agendis

12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,

13. cum impio de pietate cum inhonesto de honestate cum operario agri de omni opere

13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work

14. cum operario annuali de consummatione anni cum servo pigro de multa operatione non adtendas his in omni consilio

14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.

15. cum viro sancto adsiduus esto quemcumque cognoveris observantem timorem Dei

15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,

16. cujus anima est secundum animam tuam quicumque titubaverit in tenebris non condolebit tibi

16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.

17. et cor boni consilii statue non est enim tibi aliud pluris illo

17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.

18. anima viri sancti enuntiat aliquando vera quam septem circumspectores sedentes ad speculandum

18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to watch.

19. et in his omnibus deprecare Altissimum ut dirigat in veritate viam tuam

19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.

20. ante omnem operam verbum verax præcedat te et ante omnem actum consilium stabile

20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.

21. verbum nequa inmutabit cor quattuor partes oriuntur bonum et malum vita et mors et dominatrix illorum est adsidua lingua

21. A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

22. vir peritus multos erudivit et animæ suæ suavis est

22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.

23. qui sofistice loquitur odibilis est omni re defraudabitur

23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.

24. non est enim data illi a Domino gratia omni enim sapientia defraudatus est

24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.

25. est sapiens animæ suæ sapiens et fructus sensus illius laudabilis

25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.

26. vir sapiens plebem suam erudit et fructus sensus ejus fideles sunt

26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.

27. vir sapiens implebitur benedictione et videntes illum laudabunt

27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.

28. vita viri in numero dierum dies autem Israël innumerabiles sunt

28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

29. sapiens in populo hereditabit honorem et nomen illius erit vivens in æternum

29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.

30. fili in vita tua tempta animam tuam et si fuerit nequam non des illi potestatem

30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:

31. non enim omnia omnibus expediunt et non omni animæ omne genus placet

31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.

32. noli avidus esse in omni epulatione et non te effundas super omnem escam

32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:

33. in multis enim escis erit infirmitas et aplestia adpropinquabit usque ad cholera

33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.

34. propter aplestiam multi obierunt qui autem abstinens est adiciet vitam

34. By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.