Sirach 6
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1BE not of a friend [thy neighbours] enemie: for suche shal haue an euil name, shame and reproche, and he shal be in infamie as the wicked that hathe a double tongue. 2Be not proude in the deuice of thine owne minde, lest thy soule rent thee as a bull, 3And eat vp thy leaues, and destroie thy frute, and so thou be lefte as a drye tree [in the wildernes.] 4For a wicked soule destroieth him that hathe it, and maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies, [and bringeth him to the porcion of the vngodlie.] 5A swete talke multiplieth the friends [& pacifieth them that be at variance,] and a swete tongue increaseth muche good talke. 6Holde friendship with manie, neuertheles haue but one counseler of a thousand. 7If thou gettest a friend, proue him first, & be not hastie to credit him. 8For some man is a friend for his owne occasion, and wil not abide in the day of thy trouble. 9And there is some friend that turneth to enimitie, and taketh parte against thee, & in contention he wil declare thy shame. 10Againe some friend is but a companion at the table, and in the day of thine affliction he continueth not. 11But in thy prosperitie he wil be as thou thy self, and wil vse libertie ouer thy seruants. 12If thou be broght low, he wil be against thee, and wil hide him self from thy face. 13Departe from thine enemies, and beware of thy friends. 14A faithful friend is a strong defence, and he that findeth suche one, findeth a treasure. 15A faithful friend oght not to be changed for any thing, and the weight [of golde & siluer] is not to be compared to the goodnes [of his faith.] 16A faithful friend is the medicine of life [and immortalitie,] & thei that feare the Lord, shal finde him. 17Who so feareth the Lord, shal direct his friendship a right, and as his owne self, so shal his friend be. 18¶My sonne, receiue doctrine from thy youth vp: so shalt thou finde wisdome [which shal indure] til thine olde age. 19Go to her as one that ploweth, and soweth, and waite for her good frutes: for thou shalt haue but litle labour in her worke: but thou shalt eat of her frutes right sone. 20How exceading sharpe is she to the vnlearned? he that is without iudgement, wil not remaine with her. 21Vnto suche one she is as a fine touchestone, and he casteth her from him without delay. 22For thei haue the name of wisdome, but there be but fewe that haue the knowledge of her. 23[For with them that knowe her, she abideth vnto the appearing of God.] 24Giue eare, my sonne: receiue my doctrine, and refuse not my counsel, 25And put thy fete into her linkes, and thy necke into her chaine. 26Bowe downe thy shulder vnto her, and beare her, and be not wearie of her bands. 27Come vnto her with thy whole heart, & kepe her waies with all thy power. 28Seke after her, and searche her, & she shal be shewed thee: and when thou hast gotten her, forsake her not. 29For at the last thou shalt finde rest in her, and that shalbe turned to thy ioye. 30Then shal her fetters be a strong defence for thee, [and a sure fundacion] & her chaines a glorious raiment. 31For there is a golden ornament in her, & her bands are the laces of purple colour. 32Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, & shalt put her vpon thee, as a crowne of ioye. 33My sonne, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught, and if thou wilt applie thy minde, thou shalt be wittie. 34If thou loue to heare, thou shalt receiue [doctrine,] and if thou delite in hearing, thou shalt be wise. 35Stand with the multitude of the Elders, which are wise, and ioyne with him that is wise. 36Desire to heare all godlie talke, and let not the graue sentences of knowledge escape thee. 37And if thou seest a man of vnderstanding, get thee sone vnto him, and let thy foote weare the steppes of his dores. 38Let thy minde be vpon the ordinances of the Lord, and be continually occupied in his commandements: so shal he stablish thine heart, and giue thee wisdome at thine owne desire.
Chapters in Sirach