Sirach 6
Good News Translation
6 1 and do not be an enemy when you should be a friend. A bad reputation brings you the disgrace that lying sinners deserve. 2 Do not let your passions carry you away; this can tear your soul to pieces like a bull.[a] 3 You will be left like a dead tree without any leaves or fruit. 4 Evil desire will destroy you and make you a joke to your enemies.
Friendship
5 If you are polite and courteous, you will enjoy the friendship of many people. 6 Exchange greetings with many, but take advice from only one person out of a thousand. 7 When you make friends, don't be too quick to trust them; make sure that they have proved themselves. 8 Some people will be your friends only when it is convenient for them, but they won't stand by you in trouble. 9 Others will fall out with you over some argument, and then embarrass you by letting everyone know about it. 10-11 Others will sit at your table as long as things are going well; they will stick to you like your shadow and give orders to your servants, but they will not stand by you in trouble. 12 If your situation takes a turn for the worse, they will turn against you, and you won't be able to find them anywhere.
13 Stay away from your enemies and be on guard against your friends. 14 A loyal friend is like a safe shelter; find one, and you have found a treasure. 15 Nothing else is as valuable; there is no way of putting a price on it. 16 A loyal friend is like a medicine that keeps you in good health. Only those who fear the Lord can find such a friend. 17 A person who fears the Lord can make real friendships, because he will treat his friends as he does himself.[b]
Learn from Wisdom
18 My child, learn to value Wisdom while you are young, and you will still be able to find her when you grow old. 19 (A)Work as hard to find Wisdom as a farmer works to plow and plant his fields; then you can expect a good harvest. You will have to work at it for a while, but you will soon be enjoying what you have earned. 20 Undisciplined people find Wisdom's demands too hard and don't have enough determination to meet them. 21 Her requirements are a burden heavier than they are willing to bear, and they quickly lay them aside.
22 Discipline means just that—discipline,[c] and not many people are able to discipline themselves.
23 My child, listen to me and take my advice. 24 Put Wisdom's chains around your feet and her yoke around your neck. 25 Carry her on your shoulder and don't be resentful of her bonds. 26 Follow Wisdom, and keep to her ways with all your heart. 27 Go looking for her, and she will reveal herself to you. Take hold of her and don't let go. 28 Then you will discover the peace of mind she offers, and she will become your joy. 29-30 The signs of slavery you wear will become signs of royal majesty. Her chains will be your protection, and you will wear her yoke like a magnificent robe. 31 You will wear Wisdom like a splendid crown.
32 My child, you can learn if you want to. You can be clever if you are determined to be. 33 If you are willing to listen, you will learn and become wise. 34 Go where the old people are; find someone who is wise, and stay with him. 35 Be ready to listen when religious people speak, and don't miss anything that shows insight. 36 If you find someone with understanding, get up early to call on him; wear out his doorstep with your visits.
37 (B)Devote all your time to studying the Lord's commands and thinking about them. He will give you the insight and wisdom you are looking for.
Footnotes
- Sirach 6:2 Verse 2 in both Greek and Hebrew is unclear.
- Sirach 6:17 because...himself; or because his friends will also fear the Lord.
- Sirach 6:22 Hebrew Discipline...discipline; Greek Wisdom...wisdom.
Sirach 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6
for a bad name incurs shame and reproach;
so it is with the double-tongued sinner.(A)
2 Do not fall into the grip of passion,[a]
or you may be torn apart as by a bull.[b]
3 Your leaves will be devoured and your fruit destroyed,
and you will be left like a withered tree.(B)
4 Strong passion[c] destroys those who have it
and makes them the laughingstock of their enemies.(C)
Friendship, False and True
5 Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.(D)
6 Let those who are at peace with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.(E)
7 When you gain friends, gain them through testing,
and do not trust them hastily.(F)
8 For there are friends who are such when it suits them,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.(G)
9 And there are friends who turn to enmity
and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace.
10 And there are friends who are companions at the table,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.(H)
11 When you are prosperous, they become your second self
and boldly command your slaves,
12 but if you are brought low, they turn against you
and hide themselves from you.
13 Keep away from your enemies,
and be on guard with your friends.
14 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;
whoever finds one has found a treasure.(I)
15 Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
16 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine,
and those who fear the Lord will find them.
17 Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright,
for as they are, so are their neighbors also.
Blessings of Wisdom
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline,
and when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 Come to her like one who plows and sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For when you cultivate her you will toil but little,
and soon you will eat of her produce.(J)
20 She seems very harsh to the undisciplined;
fools will not remain with her.(K)
21 She will be like a heavy stone to test them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.(L)
22 For wisdom is like her name;
she is not readily perceived by many.
23 Listen, my child, and accept my judgment;
do not reject my counsel.(M)
24 Put your feet into her fetters
and your neck into her collar.(N)
25 Bend your shoulder and carry her,
and do not become angry with her bonds.(O)
26 Come to her with all your soul,
and keep her ways with all your might.
27 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you,
and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.(P)
28 For at last you will find her rest,
and she will be changed into joy for you.
29 Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,
and her collar a glorious robe.(Q)
30 Her yoke[d] is a golden ornament
and her bonds a purple cord.(R)
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe
and put her on like a splendid crown.[e](S)
32 If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined,
and if you apply yourself you will become clever.
33 If you love to listen you will accept discipline,
and if you pay attention you will become wise.
34 Stand in the company of the elders.
Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one.
35 Be ready to listen to every godly discourse,
and let no wise proverbs escape you.(T)
36 If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him;
let your foot wear out his doorstep.(U)
37 Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,
and meditate at all times on his commandments.
It is he who will give insight to[f] your mind,
and your desire for wisdom will be granted.(V)
Ben Sira 6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 6
1 Do not be a foe instead of a friend.
A bad name, disgrace, and dishonor you will inherit.
Thus the wicked, the double-tongued![a]
Unruly Passions
2 Do not fall into the grip of your passion,(A)
lest like fire it consume your strength.
3 It will eat your leaves and destroy your fruits,
and you will be left like a dry tree.
4 For fierce passion destroys its owner
and makes him the sport of his enemies.
True Friendship[b]
5 Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and gracious lips, friendly greetings.
6 Let those who are friendly to you be many,
but one in a thousand your confidant.
7 When you gain friends, gain them through testing,(B)
and do not be quick to trust them.
8 For there are friends when it suits them,
but they will not be around in time of trouble.
9 Another is a friend who turns into an enemy,
and tells of the quarrel to your disgrace.
10 Others are friends, table companions,
but they cannot be found in time of affliction.
11 When things go well, they are your other self,
and lord it over your servants.
12 If disaster comes upon you, they turn against you
and hide themselves.
13 Stay away from your enemies,
and be on guard with your friends.
14 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;
whoever finds one finds a treasure.
15 Faithful friends are beyond price,
no amount can balance their worth.
16 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
those who fear God will find them.
17 Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship,
for as they are, so will their neighbors be.
Blessings of Wisdom[c]
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline;
and when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her;
then wait for her bountiful crops.
For in cultivating her you will work but little,
and soon you will eat her fruit.
20 She is rough ground to the fool!
The stupid cannot abide her.
21 She will be like a burdensome stone to them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.
22 For discipline[d] is like her name,
she is not accessible to many.
23 Listen, my child, and take my advice;
do not refuse my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck under her yoke.
25 Bend your shoulders and carry her
and do not be irked at her bonds.
26 With all your soul draw close to her;
and with all your strength keep her ways.
27 Inquire and search, seek and find;
when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28 Thus at last you will find rest in her,
and she will become your joy.
29 Her fetters will be a place of strength;
her snare, a robe of spun gold.
30 Her yoke will be a gold ornament;(C)
her bonds, a purple cord.
31 You will wear her as a robe of glory,
and bear her as a splendid crown.
32 If you wish, my son, you can be wise;
if you apply yourself, you can be shrewd.
33 If you are willing to listen, you can learn;
if you pay attention, you can be instructed.
34 Stand in the company of the elders;
stay close to whoever is wise.
35 Be eager to hear every discourse;
let no insightful saying escape you.(D)
36 If you see the intelligent, seek them out;
let your feet wear away their doorsteps!
37 Reflect on the law of the Most High,
and let his commandments be your constant study.
Then he will enlighten your mind,
and make you wise as you desire.(E)
Footnotes
- 6:1 Thus…double-tongued!: people will say this against those disgraced by lying and double-talk.
- 6:5–17 One of several poems Ben Sira wrote on friendship; see also 9:10–16; 12:8–18; 13:1–23; 19:13–17; 22:19–26; 27:16–21. True friends are discerned not by prosperity (v. 11), but through the trials of adversity: distress, quarrels (v. 9), sorrow (v. 10) and misfortune (v. 12). Such friends are rare, a gift from God (vv. 14–17).
- 6:18–37 The various figures in each of the eight stanzas urge the search for wisdom through patience (vv. 18–19), persistence (vv. 20–22), docility and perseverance (vv. 23–28). Wisdom bestows rich rewards (vv. 29–31) on those who apply themselves and learn from the wise (vv. 32–36). Although one must strive for wisdom, it is God who grants it (v. 37). Cf. 4:11–19.
- 6:22 Discipline: musar (in the sense of wisdom) is a perfect homonym for musar, “removed, withdrawn”; thus the path of discipline is not accessible to many.
Sirach 6
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
6 1 and do not become an enemy instead of a friend;
for a bad name incurs shame and reproach;
so it is with the double-tongued sinner.
2 Do not fall into the grip of passion,[a]
or you may be torn apart as by a bull.[b]
3 Your leaves will be devoured and your fruit destroyed,
and you will be left like a withered tree.
4 Evil passion destroys those who have it,
and makes them the laughing-stock of their enemies.
Friendship, False and True
5 Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
6 Let those who are friendly with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
7 When you gain friends, gain them through testing,
and do not trust them hastily.
8 For there are friends who are such when it suits them,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.
9 And there are friends who change into enemies,
and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace.
10 And there are friends who sit at your table,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.
11 When you are prosperous, they become your second self,
and lord it over your servants;
12 but if you are brought low, they turn against you,
and hide themselves from you.
13 Keep away from your enemies,
and be on guard with your friends.
14 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:
whoever finds one has found a treasure.
15 Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
16 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
and those who fear the Lord will find them.
17 Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright,
for as they are, so are their neighbours also.
Blessings of Wisdom
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline,
and when you have grey hair you will still find wisdom.
19 Come to her like one who ploughs and sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For when you cultivate her you will toil but little,
and soon you will eat of her produce.
20 She seems very harsh to the undisciplined;
fools cannot remain with her.
21 She will be like a heavy stone to test them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.
22 For wisdom is like her name;
she is not readily perceived by many.
23 Listen, my child, and accept my judgement;
do not reject my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck into her collar.
25 Bend your shoulders and carry her,
and do not fret under her bonds.
26 Come to her with all your soul,
and keep her ways with all your might.
27 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;
and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28 For at last you will find the rest she gives,
and she will be changed into joy for you.
29 Then her fetters will become for you a strong defence,
and her collar a glorious robe.
30 Her yoke[c] is a golden ornament,
and her bonds a purple cord.
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe,
and put her on like a splendid crown.[d]
32 If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined,
and if you apply yourself you will become clever.
33 If you love to listen you will gain knowledge,
and if you pay attention you will become wise.
34 Stand in the company of the elders.
Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one.
35 Be ready to listen to every godly discourse,
and let no wise proverbs escape you.
36 If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him;
let your foot wear out his doorstep.
37 Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,
and meditate at all times on his commandments.
It is he who will give insight to[e] your mind,
and your desire for wisdom will be granted.
Footnotes
- Sirach 6:2 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Sirach 6:2 Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Sirach 6:30 Heb: Gk Upon her
- Sirach 6:31 Heb: Gk crown of gladness
- Sirach 6:37 Heb: Gk will confirm
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