Sirach 37 Clementine Vulgate
1 [Omnis amicus dicet: Et ego amicitiam copulavi: sed est amicus solo nomine amicus. Nonne tristitia inest usque ad mortem?
1 Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name.
2 sodalis autem et amicus ad inimicitiam convertentur.
2 Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?
3 O præsumptio nequissima, unde create es cooperire aridam malitia et dolositate illius?
3 O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit?
4 Sodalis amico conjucundatur in oblectationibus, et in tempore tribulationis adversarius erit.
4 There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him.
5 Sodalis amico condolet causa ventris, et contra hostem accipiet scutum.
5 There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler.
6 Non obliviscaris amici tui in animo tuo, et non immemor sis illius in opibus tuis.
6 Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches.
7 Noli consiliari cum eo qui tibi insidiatur, et a zelantibus te absconde consilium.]
7 Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest.
8 [Omnis consiliarius prodit consilium, sed est consiliarius in semetipso.
8 Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you,
9 A consiliario serva animam tuam: prius scito quæ sit illius necessitas: et ipse enim animo suo cogitabit:
9 and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you.
10 ne forte mittat sudem in terram, et dicat tibi:
10 Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.
11 Bona est via tua: et stet e contrario videre quid tibi eveniat.
11 Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.
12 Cum viro irreligioso tracta de sanctitate, et cum injusto de justitia, et cum muliere de ea quæ æmulatur, cum timido de bello, cum negotiatore de trajectione, cum emptore de venditione, cum viro livido de gratiis agendis,
12 But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail.
13 cum impio de pietate, cum inhonesto de honestate, cum operario agrario de omni opere,
13 Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it.
14 cum operario annuali de consummatione anni, cum servo pigro de multa operatione. Non attendas his in omni consilio:
14 For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower.
15 sed cum viro sancto assiduus esto, quemcumque cognoveris observantem timorem Dei:
15 Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.
16 cujus anima est secundum animam tuam, et qui, cum titubaveris in tenebris, condolebit tibi.
16 Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action.
17 Cor boni consilii statue tecum: non est enim tibi aliud pluris illo.
17 As a token of the changing of the heart,
18 Anima viri sancti enuntiat aliquando vera, quam septem circumspectores sedentes in excelso ad speculandum.
18 four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue.
19 Et in his omnibus deprecare Altissimum, ut dirigat in veritate viam tuam.]
19 There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
20 [Ante omnia opera verbum verax præcedat te, et ante omnem actum consilium stabile.
20 There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food.
21 Verbum nequam immutabit cor: ex quo partes quatuor oriuntur: bonum et malum, vita et mors: et dominatrix illorum est assidua lingua. Est vir astutus multorum eruditor, et animæ suæ inutilis est.
21 For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
22 Vir peritus multos erudivit, et animæ suæ suavis est.
22 There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.
23 Qui sophistice loquitur odibilis est: in omni re defraudabitur.
23 A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.
24 Non est illi data a Domino gratia, omni enim sapientia defraudatus est.
24 A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him will call him happy.
25 Est sapiens animæ suæ sapiens, et fructus sensus illius laudabilis.
25 The life of a man is counted by days. The days of Israel are innumerable.
26 Vir sapiens plebem suam erudit, et fructus sensus illius fideles sunt.
26 The wise man will inherit confidence among his people. His name will live forever.
27 Vir sapiens implebitur benedictionibus, et videntes illum laudabunt.
27 My son, test your soul in your life. See what is evil for it, and don’t give in to it.
28 Vita viri in numero dierum: dies autem Israël innumerabiles sunt.
28 For not all things are profitable for all men. Not every soul has pleasure in everything.
29 Sapiens in populo hæreditabit honorem, et nomen illius erit vivens in æternum.]
29 Don’t be insatiable in any luxury. Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat.
30 [Fili, in vita tua tenta animam tuam, et si fuerit nequam non des illi potestatem:
30 For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea.
31 non enim omnia omnibus expediunt, et non omni animæ omne genus placet.
31 Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life.
32 Noli avidus esse in omni epulatione, et non te effundas super omnem escam:
32 Not in this translation
33 in multis enim escis erit infirmitas, et aviditas appropinquabit usque ad choleram.
33 Not in this translation
34 Propter crapulam multi obierunt: qui autem abstinens est adjiciet vitam.]
34 Not in this translation
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)