Sirach · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Sirach 6 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 And instead of a friend become not an enemy; For an evil name shall inherit shame and reproach: Even so shall the sinner that hath a double tongue.
1 Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue.
2 Exalt not thyself in the counsel of thy soul; That thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull:
2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull.
3 Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruits, And leave thyself as a dry tree.
3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree.
4 A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath gotten it, And shall make him a laughingstock to his enemies.
4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies.
5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends; And a fair-speaking tongue will multiply courtesies.
5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies.
6 Let those that are at peace with thee be many; But thy counsellors one of a thousand.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand.
7 If thou wouldest get thee a friend, get him by proving, And be not in haste to trust him.
7 If you want to gain a friend, get him in a time of testing, and don’t be in a hurry to trust him.
8 For there is a friend [that is so ] for his own occasion; And he will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
8 For there is a friend just for an occasion. He won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; And he will discover strife to thy reproach.
9 And there is a friend who turns into an enemy. He will discover strife to your reproach.
10 And there is a friend that is a companion at the table; And he will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
10 And there is a friend who is a companion at the table, but he won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
11 And in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, And will be bold over thy servants:
11 In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.
12 If thou shalt be brought low, he will be against thee, And will hide himself from thy face.
12 If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.
13 Separate thyself from thine enemies; And beware of thy friends.
13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defense. He who has found him has found a treasure.
15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend; And his excellency is beyond price.
15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend. His excellency is beyond price.
16 A faithful friend is a medicine of life; And they that fear the Lord shall find him.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 He that feareth the Lord directeth his friendship aright; For as he is, so is his neighbour also.
17 He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly; for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
18 My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: And even unto hoar hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, And wait for her good fruits; For thy toil shall be little in the tillage of her, And thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
19 Come to her as one who plows and sows and wait for her good fruit; for your toil will be little in her cultivation, and you will soon eat of her fruit.
20 How exceeding harsh is she to the unlearned! And he that is without understanding will not abide in her.
20 How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
21 As a mighty stone of trial shall she rest upon him; And he will not delay to cast her from him.
21 She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial. He won’t hesitate to cast her from him.
22 For wisdom is according to her name; and she is not manifest unto many.
22 For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many.
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgement, And refuse not my counsel,
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel.
24 And bring thy feet into her fetters, And thy neck into her chain.
24 Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.
25 Put thy shoulder under her, and bear her, And be not grieved with her bonds.
25 Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds.
26 Come unto her with all thy soul, And keep her ways with thy whole power.
26 Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power.
27 Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee; And when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.
27 Search and seek, and she will be made known to you. When you get hold of her, don’t let her go.
28 For at the last thou shalt find her rest; And she shall be turned for thee into gladness.
28 For at the last you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness.
29 And her fetters shall be to thee for a covering of strength, And her chains for a robe of glory.
29 Her fetters will be to you for a covering of strength, and her chains for a robe of glory.
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, And her bands are a riband of blue.
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a purple cord.
31 Thou shalt put her on [as ] a robe of glory, And shalt array thee with her [as ] a crown of rejoicing.
31 You shall put her on as a robe of glory, and shall put her on as a crown of rejoicing.
32 My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be instructed; And if thou wilt yield thy soul, thou shalt be prudent.
32 My son, if you are willing, you will be instructed. If you will yield your soul, you will be prudent.
33 If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive; And if thou incline thine ear, thou shalt be wise.
33 If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise.
34 Stand thou in the multitude of the elders; And whoso is wise, cleave thou unto him.
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse; And let not the proverbs of understanding escape thee.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.
36 If thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, And let thy foot wear out the steps of his doors.
36 If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.
37 Let thy mind dwell upon the ordinances of the Lord, And meditate continually in his commandments: He shall establish thine heart, And thy desire of wisdom shall be given unto thee.
37 Let your mind dwell on the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually on his commandments. He will establish your heart and your desire for wisdom will be given to you.
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).
… followed Him, not as those who were not again to leave Him, but to see where He dwelt, and to fulfill the Scripture: "Let thy foot wear out the threshold of His doors; arise to come to Him continually, and be instructed in His precepts." He showed them where He dwelt: they came and remained with Him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
… may "come in in the sight of the Lord." They also may be understood to be fettered, who are enchained with the precepts of wisdom, the which being patiently supported are turned into ornaments: whence it hath been written, "Put thy feet into her fetters." "According to the greatness," he saith, "of Thy arm, receive Thou unto adoption the sons …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
But since these also, as it is said, put their "feet in the fetters" of wisdom, are taught wisdom (he means the feet of the heart, not of the body), and bound by its golden chains depart not from the path of God, and become not runaways from him; whichever reading we adopt, the truth in the meaning is safe.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)