Sirach · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Sirach 37 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?
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2 But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.
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3 O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?
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4 There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.
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5 There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly’s sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.
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6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
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7 Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
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8 Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.
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9 Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:
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10 Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
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11 Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.
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12 Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,
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13 Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work,
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14 Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.
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15 But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
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16 Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
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17 And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
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18 The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to watch.
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19 But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.
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20 In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.
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21 A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
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22 A skillful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.
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23 He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.
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24 Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.
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25 There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.
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26 A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.
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27 A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.
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28 The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
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29 A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.
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30 My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:
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31 For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.
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32 Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:
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33 For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.
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34 By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.
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What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… to this also, the first draws his conclusion: "Then you are not a man." Now of this sort of ensnaring arguments, Scripture, as I judge, expresses detestation in that place where it is said, "There is one that showeth wisdom in words, and is hated;" although, indeed, a style of speech which is not intended to entrap, but only aims …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
The man who speaks wisely and eloquently, but lives wickedly, may, it is true, instruct many who are anxious to learn; though, as it is written, he "is unprofitable to himself." Wherefore, also, the apostle says: "Whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached." Now Christ is the truth; yet we see that the truth can be preached, though …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)