Sirach 37
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1EVerie friend saith, I am a friend vnto him also: but there is some friend, which is onely a friend in name. 2Remaineth there not heauines vnto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemie? 3O wicked presumption, from whence art thou sprong vp to couer the earth with disceite? 4There is some companion which in prosperitie reioyceth with his friend: but in the time of trouble he is against him. 5There is some companion that helpeth his friend for the bellie sake, & taketh vp the buckeler against the enemie. 6Forget not thy friend in thy minde, and thinke vpon him in thy riches. 7Seke no counsel at him of whome thou art suspected, and disclose not thy counsel vnto suche as hate thee. 8Euerie counseler praiseth his owne counsel: but there is some that counseleth for him self. 9Beware of the counseler, and be aduised afore whereto thou wilt vse him: for he wil counsel for him self, lest he cast the lot vpon thee, 10And say vnto thee, Thy way is good, & afterwarde he stand against thee, and loke what shal become of thee. 11[Aske no counsel for religion of him, that is without religion, nor of iustice, of him that hathe no iustice,] nor of a woman touching her of whome she is ielous, nor of a cowarde in matters of warre, nor of a marchant concerning exchange, nor of a bier for the sale, nor of an enuious man touching thankefulnes, nor of the vnmerciful touching kindenes, [nor of an vnhonest man of honestie,] nor of the slothful for anie labour, nor of an hireling for the finishing of a worke, nor of an idle seruant for muche busines: hearken not vnto these in anie matter of counsel. 12But be continual with a godlie man whome thou knowest to kepe the commandements of the Lord, whose minde is according to thy minde, & is sorie for thee when thou stumblest. 13Take counsel of thine owne heart: for there is no man more faithful vnto thee, then it. 14For a mans minde is sometime more accustomed to shewe more then seuen watchmen that sit aboue in an high tower. 15And aboue all this pray to the most High, that he wil direct thy waye in trueth. 16Let reason go before euerie enterprise, & counsel before euerie action. 17¶The [changing] of the countenance is a signe of the changing of the heart: foure things appeare good and euil, life and death, but the tongue hathe euer more the gouernement ouer them. 18¶Some man is wittie, & hathe instructed manie, and yet is vnprofitable vnto him self. 19Some man wil be wise in wordes, and is hated, yea, he is destitute of all foode, 20Because grace is not giuen him of the Lord: for he is destitute of all wisdome. 21Another is wise for him self, and the frutes of vnderstanding are faithful in his mouth. 22A wise man instructeth his people, and the frutes of his wisdome faile not. 23A wise man shalbe plenteously blessed, and all they that se him, shal thinke him blessed. 24The life of man standeth in the nomber of dayes: but the dayes of Israel are innumerable. 25A wise man shal obteine credit among his people, and his name shalbe perpetual. 26My sonne, proue thy soule in thy life, & se what is euil for it, and permit it not to do it. 27For all things are not profitable for all men, nether hathe euerie soule pleasure in euerie thing. 28Be not griedie in all delites, and be not to hastie vpon all meates. 29For excesse of meates bringeth sickenes, and glotonie cometh into choliricke diseases. 30By surfet haue manie perished: but he that dieteth him self, prolongeth his life.
Chapters in Sirach