Wisdom of Ben Sira 37

New Catholic Bible

¹ Every friend can say, “I too am your friend,”
    but some are friends in name only.
² Is it not a sorrow comparable to that of death
    when a dear friend turns into an enemy?
³ O inclination to evil, why were you created
    to blanket the earth with deceit?
⁴ A false friend will rejoice in your prosperity
    but turn against you when misfortune strikes.
⁵ A good friend will help you for his stomach’s sake
    but will serve as your shield-bearer against your enemies.
⁶ Do not forget your friend in your heart,
    and remember him in your prosperity.

⁷ All counselors praise the advice they offer,
    but some provide counsel with their own interests in mind.
⁸ Be wary of one who offers advice;
    find out first what his interest is.
For he may be thinking only of his own best interests,
    and his advice may not be to your advantage.
⁹ He may tell you how good your way will be
    and then stand aside to see what happens to you.
¹⁰ Do not consult anyone who regards you with suspicion
    or reveal your plans to those who are jealous of you.
¹¹ Never consult with a woman about her rival
    or with a coward about war,
with a merchant about business
    or with a buyer about selling,
with a miser about generosity
    or with a cruel person about goodness of heart,
with an idler about any kind of work
    or with a casual worker about completing the job,
with a lazy servant about a large undertaking:
    do not depend on these for any counsel.
¹² Rather, associate with a devout person
    whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,
who is of one mind with you
    and who will sympathize with you if you fall.
¹³ In addition, trust your own judgment,
    for you have no counselor more reliable for you.
¹⁴ Your own conscience will sometimes give you a more accurate warning
    than seven watchmen stationed on a high tower.
¹⁵ But above all, pray to the Most High,
    asking that he direct your steps on the path of truth.

¹⁶ Reason should precede every work,
    and deliberation should come before every undertaking.
¹⁷ Thoughts are rooted in the heart,
    which sprouts forth four branches:
¹⁸ good and evil, life and death,
    and their mistress is always the tongue.
¹⁹ One man may be clever enough to teach many
    and yet be useless to himself.
²⁰ Another may be a brilliant speaker and be detested,
    then end up by starving to death,
²¹ if the Lord has withheld grace and charm
    by depriving him of wisdom.
²² When one is wise to his own advantage,
    the fruits of his knowledge are seen in his own person.
²³ When one is wise to his people’s advantage,
    the fruits of his knowledge will be enduring.
²⁴ One who is truly wise has praise heaped upon him,
    and all who see him will call him blessed.
²⁵ The days of a man’s life are numbered,
    but the days of Israel are without number.
²⁶ One who is truly wise will gain the confidence^[d] of his people,
    and his name will endure forever.

²⁷ My child, test yourself throughout your life;
    determine what is bad for you and do not indulge in it.
²⁸ For not everything is good for everyone,
    nor do we all enjoy the same things.
²⁹ Do not go to excess with any enjoyment,
    and do not be greedy for food.
³⁰ For overeating leads to illness,
    and gluttony brings on nausea.
³¹ Many have died as a result of gluttony,
    but one who guards against it prolongs his life.