Sirach 37
Good News Translation
False Friends
37 Anyone can claim to be your friend, but some people are friends in name only. 2 The grief caused when a close friendship turns sour is as bad as death. 3 This evil impulse we have! Why was it ever formed? How did it manage to cover the earth with deceit? 4 Some people will be your friend as long as things are going well, but they will turn against you when trouble comes. 5 A real[a] friend will help you against your enemies[b] and protect you in the fight. 6 Never forget such companions in battle;[c] share the results of your victory with them.
Caution in Taking Advice
7 Anyone can give advice, but some people do so only in their own interest. 8 Be careful when somebody offers you advice. Find out first what his interest in the matter is, because you can be sure that he is thinking primarily of himself. Why should he come out on top instead of you?[d] 9 He will assure you that things look good, and then stand back to watch what happens to you.
10 Don't ask advice of anyone who doesn't trust you, and don't give advice to anyone who is jealous of you.
11 Don't ask a woman for advice about a rival of hers,
a coward about war,
a merchant about a bargain,
a buyer about selling,
a stingy person about gratitude,
a cruel person about kindness,
a lazy person about work,
a casual worker about finishing a job,
a lazy slave about a difficult task.
Pay no attention to any advice they may give.
12 Instead, rely on someone who is religious and known to keep the Lord's commands, someone who is sympathetic with you, who will be sorry to see you fail. 13 And trust your own judgment; no one's advice is more reliable. 14 Sometimes your own intuition can tell you more than seven watchmen on a high tower. 15 Above all, pray to the Most High that he will show you the right thing to do.
Wisdom and Confidence
16 Planning and thought lie behind everything that is done. 17-18 The mind concerns itself with four things: these are good and evil, life and death. They all begin in the mind,[e] but the tongue is their absolute ruler.
19 Someone may have the ability to teach, but still not be of much use to himself. 20 He may be clever with words, but end up starving because people hate him. 21 This may happen if he doesn't have good sense, if the Lord has not given him tact. 22 Someone may consider himself wise and let you know that he is certain about what he knows. 23 Anyone who really is wise will be the teacher of his people, and they can be certain that what he teaches is the truth. 24 Everyone will praise such a person and speak of him as fortunate. 25 A person's life has only a limited number of days, but the life of Israel cannot be measured in days at all. 26 The wise will win the confidence of others, and will be remembered forever.
Controlling the Appetite
27 My child, as you go through life, keep your appetite under control, and don't eat anything that you know is bad for you. 28 All food doesn't agree with everyone, and everyone doesn't like the same kinds of food. 29 Don't feel that you just have to have all sorts of fancy food, and don't be a glutton over any food. 30 If you eat too much, you'll get sick; if you do it all the time, you'll always have stomach trouble. 31 Gluttony has been the death of many people. Avoid it and live longer.
Notas al pie
- Sirach 37:5 Hebrew real; Greek does not have this word.
- Sirach 37:5 Hebrew against your enemies; Greek hoping to get a meal.
- Sirach 37:6 Hebrew in battle; Greek in your soul.
- Sirach 37:8 Hebrew Why...you?; Greek He may use his influence against you.
- Sirach 37:17 Hebrew The mind...the mind; Greek There are four things that show the changes of the heart: good and evil, life and death.
Sirach 37
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
False Friends
37 Every friend says, “I, too, am a friend,”
but some friends are friends only in name.(A)
2 Does not sorrow draw near to death
when a companion and friend[a] turns into an enemy?(B)
3 O inclination to evil, why were you formed
to cover the land with deceit?
4 Some companions rejoice in the happiness of friends,
but in time of trouble they are against them.(C)
5 Some companions help a friend for their stomachs’ sake,
yet in battle they will carry his shield.(D)
6 Do not forget friends during the battle,[b]
and do not be unmindful of them when you distribute your spoils.[c](E)
Caution in Taking Advice
7 All counselors praise the counsel they give,
but some give counsel in their own interest.
8 Be wary of counselors
and learn first what is their interest,
for they will take thought for themselves.
They may cast the lot against you(F)
9 and tell you, “Your way is good,”
and then stand aside to see what happens to you.
10 Do not consult the one who regards you with suspicion;
hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.
11 Do not 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[d]
or with the merciless about kindness,
with an idler about any work
or with a seasonal laborer about finishing the job,
with a lazy slave about a big task—
pay no attention to any advice they give.(G)
12 But associate with a godly person
whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,
who is like-minded with yourself,
and who will grieve with you if you fail.(H)
13 And heed[e] the counsel of your own heart,
for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
14 For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed
than seven sentinels sitting high on a watchtower.(I)
15 But above all pray to the Most High
that he may direct your way in truth.
True and False Wisdom
16 Discussion is the beginning of every work,
and counsel precedes every undertaking.(J)
17 The mind is the root of all counsel;[f]
18 it sprouts four branches,[g]
good and evil, life and death,
and it is the tongue that continually rules them.(K)
19 Some people may be clever enough to teach many
and yet be useless to themselves.(L)
20 Skillful speakers may be hated;
they will be destitute of all food,
21 for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm,
since they are lacking in all wisdom.
22 If people are wise to their own advantage,
the fruits of their good sense will be praiseworthy.[h]
23 The wise instruct their own people,
and the fruits of their good sense are trustworthy.(M)
24 The wise will have praise heaped upon them,
and all who see them will call them happy.
25 The days of a person’s life are numbered,
but the days of Israel are without number.(N)
26 Those who are wise among their people will inherit honor,[i]
and their names will live forever.(O)
Concerning Moderation
27 My child, test yourself while you live;
see what is bad for you, and do not give in to it.
28 For not everything is good for everyone,
and no one enjoys everything.(P)
29 Do not be greedy for every delicacy,
and do not eat without restraint,(Q)
30 for overeating brings sickness,
and gluttony leads to nausea.(R)
31 Many have died of gluttony,
but those who guard against it prolong their lives.
Notas al pie
- 37.2 Heb reads a friend like yourself
- 37.6 Heb: Gk in your heart
- 37.6 Heb: Gk him in your wealth
- 37.11 Gk: Heb with an evil person about generosity
- 37.13 Heb: Gk establish
- 37.17 Heb: Gk change
- 37.18 Heb: Gk four kinds of destiny appear
- 37.22 Other ancient authorities read trustworthy
- 37.26 Other ancient authorities read confidence
Ben Sira 37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 37
1 Every friend declares friendship,
but there are friends who are friends in name only.(A)
2 Is it not a sorrow unto death
when your other self becomes your enemy?
3 “Alas, my companion! Why were you created
to fill the earth with deceit?”
4 A harmful friend will look to your table,
but in time of trouble he stands aloof.
5 A good friend will fight with you against the foe,
and against your enemies he will hold up your shield.
6 Do not forget your comrade during the battle,
and do not neglect him when you distribute your spoils.
7 Every counselor points out a way,
but some counsel ways of their own.
8 Watch out when one offers advice;
find out first of all what he wants.
For he also may be thinking of himself—
Why should the opportunity fall to him?
9 He may tell you how good your way will be,
and then stand by to see you impoverished.
10 Seek no advice from your father-in-law,
and from one who is envious of you, keep your intentions hidden.
11 Seek no advice from a woman about her rival,
from a coward about war,
from a merchant about business,
from a buyer about value,
from a miser about generosity,
from a cruel person about well-being,
from a worthless worker about his work,
from a seasonal laborer about the harvest,
from an idle slave about a great task—
pay no attention to any advice they give.
12 Instead, associate with a religious person,
who you know keeps the commandments;
Who is like-minded with yourself
and will grieve for you if you fall.
13 Then, too, heed your own heart’s counsel;
for there is nothing you can depend on more.
14 The heart can reveal your situation
better than seven sentinels on a tower.
15 Then with all this, pray to God
to make your steps firm in the true path.
Wisdom and Temperance
16 A word is the source of every deed;[a]
a thought, of every act.(B)
17 The root of all conduct is the heart;
18 four branches it shoots forth:
Good and evil, death and life,
and their absolute mistress is the tongue.(C)
19 One may be wise and benefit many,
yet appear foolish to himself.
20 One may be wise, but if his words are rejected,
he will be deprived of all enjoyment.[b]
22 When one is wise to his own advantage,
the fruits of knowledge are seen in his own person.
23 When one is wise to the advantage of people,
the fruits of knowledge are lasting.(D)
24 One wise for himself has full enjoyment,
and all who see him praise him.
25 The days of one’s life are numbered,
but the life of Israel, days without number.
26 One wise among the people wins a heritage of glory,
and his name lives on and on.(E)
27 My son, while you are well, govern your appetite,[c]
and see that you do not allow it what is bad for you.
28 For not everything is good for everyone,
nor is everything suited to every taste.(F)
29 Do not go to excess with any enjoyment,(G)
neither become a glutton for choice foods;
30 For sickness comes with overeating,
and gluttony brings on nausea.
31 Through lack of self-control many have died,
but the abstemious one prolongs life.
Notas al pie
- 37:16–26 Thoughts determine action. Wisdom is the source of good and life; folly, of evil and death (vv. 16–18). If the fruits of a person’s wisdom benefit himself, he may be praised in his own lifetime; if they benefit others, the praise endures after him, in their lives (vv. 19–26).
- 37:20 Verse 21 appears only in Greek, but not in the Hebrew, which is the basis for the translation here.
- 37:27–31 Temperance and self-control should govern appetite for food, which is intended not to destroy but to preserve life.
Sirach 37
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
False Friends
37 Every friend says, ‘I too am a friend’;
but some friends are friends only in name.
2 Is it not a sorrow like that for death itself
when a dear friend turns into an enemy?
3 O inclination to evil, why were you formed
to cover the land with deceit?
4 Some companions rejoice in the happiness of a friend,
but in time of trouble they are against him.
5 Some companions help a friend for their stomachs’ sake,
yet in battle they will carry his shield.
6 Do not forget a friend during the battle,[a]
and do not be unmindful of him when you distribute your spoils.[b]
Caution in Taking Advice
7 All counsellors praise the counsel they give,
but some give counsel in their own interest.
8 Be wary of a counsellor,
and learn first what is his interest,
for he will take thought for himself.
He may cast the lot against you
9 and tell you, ‘Your way is good’,
and then stand aside to see what happens to you.
10 Do not consult one who regards you with suspicion;
hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.
11 Do not 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[c]
or with the merciless about kindness,
with an idler about any work
or with a seasonal labourer about completing his work,
with a lazy servant about a big task—
pay no attention to any advice they give.
12 But associate with a godly person
whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,
who is like-minded with yourself,
and who will grieve with you if you fail.
13 And heed[d] the counsel of your own heart,
for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
14 For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed
than seven sentinels sitting high on a watch-tower.
15 But above all pray to the Most High
that he may direct your way in truth.
True and False Wisdom
16 Discussion is the beginning of every work,
and counsel precedes every undertaking.
17 The mind is the root of all conduct;
18 it sprouts four branches,[e]
good and evil, life and death;
and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
19 Some people may be clever enough to teach many,
and yet be useless to themselves.
20 A skilful speaker may be hated;
he will be destitute of all food,
21 for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm,
since he is lacking in all wisdom.
22 If a person is wise to his own advantage,
the fruits of his good sense will be praiseworthy.[f]
23 A wise person instructs his own people,
and the fruits of his good sense will endure.
24 A wise person will have praise heaped upon him,
and all who see him will call him happy.
25 The days of a person’s life are numbered,
but the days of Israel are without number.
26 One who is wise among his people will inherit honour,[g]
and his name will live for ever.
Concerning Moderation
27 My child, test yourself while you live;
see what is bad for you and do not give in to it.
28 For not everything is good for everyone,
and no one enjoys everything.
29 Do not be greedy for every delicacy,
and do not eat without restraint;
30 for overeating brings sickness,
and gluttony leads to nausea.
31 Many have died of gluttony,
but one who guards against it prolongs his life.
Notas al pie
- Sirach 37:6 Heb: Gk in your heart
- Sirach 37:6 Heb: Gk him in your wealth
- Sirach 37:11 Heb: Gk gratitude
- Sirach 37:13 Heb: Gk establish
- Sirach 37:18 Heb: Gk As a clue to changes of heart four kinds of destiny appear
- Sirach 37:22 Other ancient witnesses read trustworthy
- Sirach 37:26 Other ancient authorities read confidence
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