False Friends
37 Every friend says, “I, too, am a friend,”
but some friends are friends only in name.(A)
2 Does not sorrow draw near to death
when a companion and friend[a] turns into an enemy?(B)
3 O inclination to evil, why were you formed
to cover the land with deceit?
4 Some companions rejoice in the happiness of friends,
but in time of trouble they are against them.(C)
5 Some companions help a friend for their stomachs’ sake,
yet in battle they will carry his shield.(D)
6 Do not forget friends during the battle,[b]
and do not be unmindful of them when you distribute your spoils.[c](E)
Caution in Taking Advice
7 All counselors praise the counsel they give,
but some give counsel in their own interest.
8 Be wary of counselors
and learn first what is their interest,
for they will take thought for themselves.
They may cast the lot against you(F)
9 and tell you, “Your way is good,”
and then stand aside to see what happens to you.
10 Do not consult the one who regards you with suspicion;
hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.
11 Do not consult with a woman about her rival
or with a coward about war,
with a merchant about business
or with a buyer about selling,
with a miser about generosity[d]
or with the merciless about kindness,
with an idler about any work
or with a seasonal laborer about finishing the job,
with a lazy slave about a big task—
pay no attention to any advice they give.(G)
12 But associate with a godly person
whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,
who is like-minded with yourself,
and who will grieve with you if you fail.(H)
13 And heed[e] the counsel of your own heart,
for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
14 For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed
than seven sentinels sitting high on a watchtower.(I)
15 But above all pray to the Most High
that he may direct your way in truth.
True and False Wisdom
16 Discussion is the beginning of every work,
and counsel precedes every undertaking.(J)
17 The mind is the root of all counsel;[f]
18 it sprouts four branches,[g]
good and evil, life and death,
and it is the tongue that continually rules them.(K)
19 Some people may be clever enough to teach many
and yet be useless to themselves.(L)
20 Skillful speakers may be hated;
they will be destitute of all food,
21 for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm,
since they are lacking in all wisdom.
22 If people are wise to their own advantage,
the fruits of their good sense will be praiseworthy.[h]
23 The wise instruct their own people,
and the fruits of their good sense are trustworthy.(M)
24 The wise will have praise heaped upon them,
and all who see them will call them happy.
25 The days of a person’s life are numbered,
but the days of Israel are without number.(N)
26 Those who are wise among their people will inherit honor,[i]
and their names will live forever.(O)
Concerning Moderation
27 My child, test yourself while you live;
see what is bad for you, and do not give in to it.
28 For not everything is good for everyone,
and no one enjoys everything.(P)
29 Do not be greedy for every delicacy,
and do not eat without restraint,(Q)
30 for overeating brings sickness,
and gluttony leads to nausea.(R)
31 Many have died of gluttony,
but those who guard against it prolong their lives.
Footnotes
- 37.2Heb reads a friend like yourself
- 37.6Heb: Gk in your heart
- 37.6Heb: Gk him in your wealth
- 37.11Gk: Heb with an evil person about generosity
- 37.13Heb: Gk establish
- 37.17Heb: Gk change
- 37.18Heb: Gk four kinds of destiny appear
- 37.22Other ancient authorities read trustworthy
- 37.26Other ancient authorities read confidence
Cross references
- 37.1 : Prov 20.6
- 37.2 : Ps 35.12–14
- 37.4 : Sir 6.8
- 37.5 : Sir 6.10
- 37.6 : Prov 27.10
- 37.8 : 2 Sam 17.7; Joel 3.3; Add Esth 9.24
- 37.11 : Prov 18.9; Sir 26.6, 29; 27.2
- 37.12 : Sir 6.36; 7.34; 8.9
- 37.14 : 2 Sam 18.24; 2 Kings 9.17
- 37.16 : Sir 32.19
- 37.18 : Deut 30.19; Prov 18.21; Mt 12.36, 37
- 37.19 : Rom 2.17–23
- 37.23 : Prov 8.18, 19
- 37.25 : Ps 39.4; 90.12
- 37.26 : Prov 3.35; Sir 4.13
- 37.28 : 1 Cor 6.12; 10.23
- 37.29 : Sir 31.12, 16, 17
- 37.30 : Sir 31.20