Sirach 6 Clementine Vulgate
1 [Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo: improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit: et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis.]
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 [Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam:
2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull.
3 et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo.
3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree.
4 Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, et deducet in sortem impiorum.]
4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies.
5 [Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat.
5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies.
6 Multi pacifici sint tibi: et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand.
7 Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, et ne facile credas ei.
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 Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, et non permanebit in die tribulationis.
8 For there is a friend just for an occasion. He won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
9 Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit.
9 And there is a friend who turns into an enemy. He will discover strife to your reproach.
10 Est autem amicus socius mensæ, et non permanebit in die necessitatis.
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 Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget.
11 In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.
12 Si humiliaverit se contra te, et a facie tua absconderit se, unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam.
12 If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.
13 Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.
13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.
14 Amicus fidelis protectio fortis: qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defense. He who has found him has found a treasure.
15 Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius.
15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend. His excellency is beyond price.
16 Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis: et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius.]
17 He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly; for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
18 [Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam.
18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, et sustine bonos fructus illius.
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 In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, et cito edes de generationibus illius.
20 How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
21 Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus ! et non permanebit in illa excors.
21 She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial. He won’t hesitate to cast her from him.
22 Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis: et non demorabuntur projicere illam.
22 For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many.
23 Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestata: quibus autem cognita est, permanet usque ad conspectum Dei.
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel.
24 Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, et ne abjicias consilium meum.
24 Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.
25 Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, et in torques illius collum tuum.
25 Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds.
26 Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedieris vinculis ejus.
26 Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power.
27 In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus.
27 Search and seek, and she will be made known to you. When you get hold of her, don’t let her go.
28 Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi: et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam:
28 For at the last you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness.
29 in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, et convertetur tibi in oblectationem.
29 Her fetters will be to you for a covering of strength, and her chains for a robe of glory.
30 Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, et torques illius in stolam gloriæ:
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a purple cord.
31 decor enim vitæ est in illa, et vincula illius alligatura salutaris.
31 You shall put her on as a robe of glory, and shall put her on as a crown of rejoicing.
32 Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.
32 My son, if you are willing, you will be instructed. If you will yield your soul, you will be prudent.
33 Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces: et si accommodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris.
33 If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise.
34 Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam: et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris.
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise.
35 In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.
36 Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus.
36 If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.
37 Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto: et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.]
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)