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Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 37
Of the choice of friends and counsellors.
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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 |
But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy. |
3 |
O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness? |
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There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him. |
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There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy. |
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Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches. |
7 |
Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee. |
8 |
Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself. |
9 |
Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind: |
10 |
Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee: |
11 |
Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee. |
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 |
Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work, |
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. |
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But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God, |
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Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee. |
17 |
And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it. |
18 |
The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch. |
19 |
But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth. |
20 |
In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action. |
21 |
A wicked word shall change the heart: 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 |
A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul. |
23 |
He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing. |
24 |
Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom. |
25 |
There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable. |
26 |
A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful. |
27 |
A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him. |
28 |
The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable. |
29 |
A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever. |
30 |
My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power: |
31 |
For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul. |
32 |
Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat: |
33 |
For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler. |
34 |
By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate, shall prolong life. |
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