1 Just as the wicked man inherits confusion and shame so will the sinner accustomed to lying.
2 Do not give yourself over to your passions; they will turn against you and, like a bull, tear you to pieces.
3 They will devour the foliage and destroy the fruit, leaving you like a dry stump.
4 An evil passion will destroy the one who is held in its power; it will make him the laughingstock of his enemies.
Friends
5 A gentle word makes many friends, an agreeable tongue calls forth gracious re plies.
6 Let your friends be many; but your counselors, one in a thousand!
7 If you would gain a friend, begin by testing him and do not put your confidence in him too quickly.
8 For there is the friend who is such when it suits him but he does not remain faithful in the time of your adversity.
9 There is the friend who becomes an enemy and, to your confusion, makes known why you quarreled.
10 There is the friend who shares your table but does not remain faithful when things go against you.
11 In times of pros perity he will be like your shad ow and he will speak freely to those of your household.
12 But if you are humiliated, he will turn against you and will avoid meeting you.
13 Distance yourself from your enemies and be careful about your friends.
14 The faithful friend is a secure refuge; whoever has found one has found a treas ure.
15 A faithful friend is beyond all price; hold him as price less.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, and those who fear the Lord will find one.
17 Whoever fears the Lord will make true friends for, as a man is, such will his friend be.
18 My son, dedicate yourself to learn ing from your youth, and you will grow in wisdom until old age.
19 Work at it like the worker and the sower, cultivate wisdom and wait for her excellent fruits. For in cultivating her you will have some trouble, but soon you will enjoy her fruits.
20 Wisdom is very severe with the ignorant. Fools will not per severe.
21 She will be like a heavy weight or a difficult test which he will quickly throw away.
22 For wisdom brings her own honor, she does not reveal herself to everyone.
23 Listen, my son, and receive my teaching, do not re ject my counsel.
24 Put her constraints on your feet and her yoke on your neck.
25 Put your shoulder to the burden and bear her yoke; do not rebel against her chains.
26 Come to her with all your soul and with all your strength observe her ways.
27 Pursue her, search for her, she will make herself known to you; when you have her, do not let her go.
28 For, in the end, you will find in her your rest and she will become your joy.
29 Her constraints will strengthen your steps and her collar will be like a glorious garment.
30 Her yoke will become an ornament of gold and her chains like precious girdles of hyacinth blue.
31 You will adorn yourself as with a garment of glory and you will put her on like a crown of jubilation.
32 If you wish, my son, you will be learned; if you pay attention, you will become clever.
33 If you love to listen, you will learn; if you really pay attention, you will become wise.
34 Be on your guard in the assembly of the elders and if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.
35 Be willing to listen to all dis courses on divine things, and do not let the say ings of the wise escape you.
36 If you see an intelligent man, follow him from daybreak and let your feet beat a pathway to his door.
37 Meditate on the precepts of the Lord and apply yourself unceasingly to his commandments. He will strengthen your heart and the wisdom you desire will be given to you.
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Comments Sirach, Chapter 6
• 6.5 Here, we have a text concerning true friendship. Ben Sira invites us not to be naive or off guard.
We should reflect before confiding in a friend, but should also have this life-saving remedy which a true friend is, a grace that God grants to those who fear him. Also see 12:8-18 and 37:1-15.
6:18-37. We obtain wisdom through a disciplined life.
7:15. Ben Sira appreciates manual work, specifically work in the fields.