Sirach 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

6 and do not become an enemy instead of a friend;
for a bad name incurs shame and reproach:
so fares the double-tongued sinner.

² Do not exalt yourself through your soul’s counsel,
lest your soul be torn in pieces like a bull.^[a]
3 You will devour your leaves and destroy your fruit,
and will be left like a withered tree.
⁴ An evil soul will destroy him who has it,
and make him the laughingstock of his enemies.

Friendship, False and True

⁵ A pleasant voice multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
⁶ Let those that are at peace with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
⁷ When you gain a friend, gain him through testing,
and do not trust him hastily.
⁸ For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience,
but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
⁹ And there is a friend who changes into an enemy,
and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace.
¹⁰ And there is a friend who is a table companion,
but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
¹¹ In your prosperity he will make himself your equal,
and be bold with your servants;
¹² but if you are brought low he will turn against you,
and will hide himself from your presence.
¹³ Keep yourself far from your enemies,
and be on guard toward your friends.

¹⁴ A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter:
he that has found one has found a treasure.
¹⁵ There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend,
and no scales can measure his excellence.
¹⁶ A faithful friend is an elixir of life;
and those who fear the Lord will find him.
¹⁷ Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright,
for as he is, so is his neighbor also.

Blessings of Wisdom

¹⁸ My son, from your youth up choose instruction,
and until you are old you will keep finding wisdom.
¹⁹ Come to her like one who plows and sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For in her service you will toil a little while,
and soon you will eat of her produce.
²⁰ She seems very harsh to the uninstructed;
a weakling will not remain with her.
²¹ She will weigh him down like a heavy testing stone,
and he will not be slow to cast her off.
²² For wisdom is like her name,
and is not manifest to many.

²³ Listen, my son, and accept my judgment;
do not reject my counsel.
²⁴ Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck into her collar.
²⁵ Put your shoulder under her and carry her,
and do not fret under her bonds.
²⁶ Come to her with all your soul,
and keep her ways with all your might.
²⁷ Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;
and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
²⁸ For at last you will find the rest she gives,
and she will be changed into joy for you.
²⁹ Then her fetters will become for you a strong protection,
and her collar a glorious robe.
³⁰ Her yoke^[b] is a golden ornament,
and her bonds are a cord of blue.
³¹ You will wear her like a glorious robe,
and put her on like a crown of gladness.

³² If you are willing, my son, you will be taught,
and if you apply yourself you will become clever.
³³ If you love to listen you will gain knowledge,
and if you incline your ear you will become wise.
³⁴ Stand in the assembly of the elders.
Who is wise? Cleave to him.
³⁵ Be ready to listen to every^[c] narrative,
and do not let wise proverbs escape you.
³⁶ If you see an intelligent man, visit him early;
let your foot wear out his doorstep.
³⁷ Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,
and meditate at all times on his commandments.
It is he who will give insight to^[d] your mind,
and your desire for wisdom will be granted.

Footnotes

1. Sirach 6:2 The meaning of the Greek of this verse is obscure
2. Sirach 6:30 Heb: Gk Upon her
3. Sirach 6:35 Heb: Gk adds divine
4. Sirach 6:37 Heb: Gk will confirm