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Sirach 37

1Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.
1Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name.
2Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
2Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?
3O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?
3O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit?
4There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.
4There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him.
5There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.
5There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler.
6Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
6Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches.
7Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.
7Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest.
8Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,
8Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you,
9And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
9and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you.
10Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
10Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.
11Neither 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 an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
11Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.
12But 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.
12But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail.
13And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.
13Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it.
14For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
14For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower.
15And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
15Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.
16Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.
16Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action.
17The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
17As a token of the changing of the heart,
18Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
18four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue.
19There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.
19There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
20There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.
20There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food.
21For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
21For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
22Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
22There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.
23A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.
23A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.
24A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.
24A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him will call him happy.
25The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
25The life of a man is counted by days. The days of Israel are innumerable.
26A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
26The wise man will inherit confidence among his people. His name will live forever.
27My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
27My son, test your soul in your life. See what is evil for it, and don’t give in to it.
28For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.
28For not all things are profitable for all men. Not every soul has pleasure in everything.
29Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:
29Don’t be insatiable in any luxury. Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat.
30For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.
30For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea.
31By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.
31Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life.