Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 6

¹ for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the deceitful sinner.

² Do not give in to the promptings of your temper, in case it gores your soul like a mad bull;

³ in case it gobbles up your leaves and you lose your fruits, and are left like a withered tree.

⁴ An evil temper destroys the man who has it and makes him the laughing-stock of his enemies.

⁵ A kindly turn of speech multiplies a man’s friends, and a courteous way of speaking invites many a friendly reply.

⁶ Let your acquaintances be many, but your advisers one in a thousand.

⁷ If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and be in no hurry to trust him;

⁸ for one kind of friend is only so when it suits him but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.

⁹ Another kind of friend will fall out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,

¹⁰ and a third kind of friend will share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:

¹¹ when you are doing well he will be your second self, ordering your servants about;

¹² but if ever you are brought low he will turn against you and will hide himself from you.

¹³ Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.

¹⁴ A faithful friend is a sure shelter, whoever finds one has found a rare treasure.

¹⁵ A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.

¹⁶ A faithful friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.

¹⁷ Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a man is, so is his friend.

¹⁸ My son, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and till your hair is white you will keep finding wisdom.

¹⁹ Cultivate her like the ploughman and the sower, and wait for her fine harvest, for in tilling her you will toil a little while, but very soon you will be eating her crops.

²⁰ How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless man does not stay with her for long:

²¹ she will weigh on him like a heavy stone, and he will lose no time in throwing her off;

²² for discipline is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.

²³ Listen, son, and take my warning, do not reject my advice:

²⁴ put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her harness;

²⁵ give your shoulder to her yoke, do not be restive in her reins;

²⁶ court her with all your soul, and with all your might keep in her ways;

²⁷ go after her and seek her; she will reveal herself to you; once you hold her, do not let her go.

²⁸ For in the end you will find rest in her and she will take the form of joy for you:

²⁹ her fetters you will find are a strong defence, her harness, a robe of honour.

³⁰ Her yoke will be a golden ornament, her reins, purple ribbons;

³¹ you will wear her like a robe of honour, you will put her on like a crown of honour.

³² If you wish, my son, you can acquire instruction, if you give your mind to it, subtlety will be yours.

³³ If you love listening you will learn, if you lend an ear, wisdom will be yours.

³⁴ Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.

³⁵ Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let shrewd proverbs escape you.

³⁶ If you see a man of understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.

³⁷ Reflect on the injunctions of the Lord, busy yourself at all times with his commandments. He will strengthen your mind, and the wisdom you desire will be granted you.