Sirach · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Sirach 6 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
WEBBE World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
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.
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 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like 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 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree.
3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree.
4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock 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. A gracious 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 you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand.
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.
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 just for an occasion. He won’t continue in the day of your 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 who turns into an enemy. He will discover strife to your 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 who is a companion at the table, but he won’t continue in the day of your 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 In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.
11 In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.
12 If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.
12 If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.
13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.
13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence. He who has found him has 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. 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 life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly; 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 your youth up. Even when you have grey hair you will find wisdom.
18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 Come to her as one who ploughs 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.
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 exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
20 How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
21 She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial. He won’t hesitate 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. She isn’t manifest to many.
22 For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many.
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgement. Don’t refuse my counsel.
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel.
24 Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.
24 Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.
25 Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds.
25 Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds.
26 Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power.
26 Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power.
27 Search and seek, and she will be made known to you. When you get hold of her, don’t let her 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 you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness.
28 For at the last you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness.
29 Her fetters will be to you 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 purple cord.
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a purple cord.
31 You shall put her on as a robe of glory, and shall put her on 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 you are willing, you will be instructed. If you will yield your soul, you will 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 you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise.
33 If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise.
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise.
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.
36 If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your 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 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.
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)