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10 With an unreligious man treat thou[a] (not) of (or about) holiness, and with an unjust man (not) of (or about) rightfulness, [With an unreligious man treat of holiness, and with the unrightwise man of rightwiseness,][b]

11 and with a woman (not) of (or about) these things which she hateth. With a fearedful man treat thou (not) of (or about) battle, with a merchant (not) of (or about) carrying over of merchandises to chapping,; with a buyer, (not) of (or about) selling, with an envious man, (not) of (or about) graces to be done; with an unpiteous man, (not) of (or about) pity, with an unhonest man, (not) of (or about) honesty, with a workman of the field, (not) of (or about) each work; with a workman hired by the year, (not) of (or about) the ending of the year, with a slow servant, (not) of (or about) much working. Give thou not attention to these men in all counsel, [and with a woman of those things that she envieth. Do thou not counsel with him that hath thee suspect, and from men envying to thee, hide thou thy counsel. With the dreadful treat of battle, and with the merchant, treat of (ex)changing; with the buyer, of selling, with the envious man, of graces to be done; with the unpiteous, of pity, with the unhonest, of honesty, with the worker, of all work; with the annual worker, of the full ending of the year, with the slow servant, of much working. Take thou not heed to these in all counsel,]

12 but be thou busy with an holy man, whomever thou knowest (is) keeping God’s dread, whose soul is after thy soul. Whoever doubteth in darknesses, shall not have sorrow with thee.

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Footnotes

  1. Sirach 37:10 The author of this book speaketh here (and also in verse 11) in scorn, and understandeth the contrary of his saying.
  2. Sirach 37:10 In verse 12 of the Early Version, but not in the Later Version, the following sentence appears: Do thou not counsel with him that hath thee suspect, and from men envying to thee, hide thou thy counsel. See verse 10 of the KJV, opposite.