Sirach 37 — UBES

37Verse 1Every friend saith, I am his friend also:
But there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.
^{Verse 2}Is it not a grief unto death,
When a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
^{Verse 3}O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in
To cover the earth with deceit?
^{Verse 4}There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend,
But in the time of trouble will be against him.
^{Verse 5}There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly,
And taketh up the buckler against the enemy.
^{Verse 6}Forget not thy friend in thy mind,
And be not unmindful of him in thy riches.^{Verse 7}Every counselor extolleth counsel;
But there is some that counseleth for himself.
^{Verse 8}Beware of a counselor,
And know before what need he hath;
For he will counsel for himself;
Lest he cast the lot upon thee,
^{Verse 9}And say unto thee, Thy way is good:
And afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
^{Verse 10}Consult not with one that suspecteth thee:
And hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
^{Verse 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 a hireling for a year of finishing work;
Nor with an idle servant of much business:
Hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.^{Verse 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.
^{Verse 13}And let the counsel of thine own heart stand:
For there is no man more faithful unto thee than it;
^{Verse 14}For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more
Than seven watchmen, that sit above in a high tower.
^{Verse 15}And above all this pray to the most High,
That he will direct thy way in truth.
^{Verse 16}Let reason go before every enterprize,
And counsel before every action.^{Verse 17}The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
^{Verse 18}Four manners of things appear: good and evil, life and death:
But the tongue ruleth over them continually.
^{Verse 19}There is one that is wise and teacheth many,
And yet is unprofitable to himself.
^{Verse 20}There is one that showeth wisdom in words, and is hated:
He shall be destitute of all food.
^{Verse 21}For grace is not given him from the Lord;
Because he is deprived of all wisdom.
^{Verse 22}Another is wise to himself;
And the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.^{Verse 23}A wise man instructeth his people;
And the fruits of his understanding fail not.
^{Verse 24}A wise man shall be filled with blessing;
And all they that see him shall count him happy.
^{Verse 25}The days of the life of man may be numbered;
But the days of Israel are innumerable.
^{Verse 26}A wise man shall inherit glory among his people,
And his name shall be perpetual.^{Verse 27}My son, prove thy soul in thy life,
And see what is evil for it,
And give not that unto it.
^{Verse 28}For all things are not profitable for all men,
Neither hath every soul pleasure in everything.
^{Verse 29}Be not insatiable in any dainty thing,
Nor too greedy upon meats:
^{Verse 30}For excess of meats bringeth sickness,
And surfeiting will turn into choler.
^{Verse 31}By surfeiting have many perished;
But he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.