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Wisdom of Ben Sira 6:16-18
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 6:16-18
New Catholic Bible
16 A faithful friend is the elixir of life,
and he who fears the Lord will find him.
17 He who fears the Lord directs his friendship aright,
for as he is, so also will his neighbor be.
The Apprenticeship of Wisdom
With All Your Soul Approach Her[a]
18 My child, choose instruction from your youth,
and you will still possess wisdom when your hair turns to gray.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 6:18 For the ancients, wisdom is tradition, transmission of a conception and practice of life (see Prov 4); she is acquired at the cost of harsh discipline. She is, therefore, learned at the school of the ancients and by meditating on the word of God. But she is not content to repeat principles and customs; she wishes to come to life again in the persevering experience of whoever seeks to acquire her.