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Bible - Book 26: Ecclesiasticus
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 37
Of the choice of friends and counsellors.
37:1. 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?
37:2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.
37:3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with
thy malice, and deceitfulness?
37:4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys,
but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.
37:5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his
belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy.
37:6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him
in thy riches.
37:7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy
counsel from them that envy thee.
37:8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a
counsellor for himself.
37:9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for
he will devise to his own mind:
37:10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
37:11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what
shall befall thee.
37:12. 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,
37:13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of
honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work,
37:14. 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.
37:15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know
to observe the fear of God,
37:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou
shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
37:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there
is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
37:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more
than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch.
37:19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may
direct thy way in truth.
37:20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady
counsel before every action.
37:21. 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.
37:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.
37:23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be
destitute of every thing.
37:24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all
wisdom.
37:25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit
of his understanding is commendable.
37:26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his
understanding are faithful.
37:27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see
shall praise him.
37:28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of
Israel are innumerable.
37:29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name
shall live for ever.
37:30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give
it no power:
37:31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind
pleaseth not every soul.
37:32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon
any meat:
37:33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will
turn to choler.
37:34. By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate,
shall prolong life.