Sirach 6

¹ {cf2 Be not of a friend thy neighbours enemie: for such shal haue an euil name, shame and reproch, and he shall be in infamie as the wicked that hath a double tongue.}

² {cf2 Bee not proude in the deuice of thine owne minde, least thy soule rent thee as a bull,}

³ {cf2 And eate vp thy leaues, & destroy thy fruite, and so thou be left as a drie tree in the wildernes.}

⁴ {cf2 For a wicked soule destroieth him that hath it, and maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies, and bringeth him to the portion of the vngodly.}

⁵ {cf2 A sweete talke multiplieth the friendes and pacifieth them that bee at variance, and a sweete tongue increaseth much good talke.}

⁶ {cf2 Holde friendship with many, neuerthelesse haue but one counseller of a thousand.}

⁷ {cf2 If thou gettest a friend, prooue him first, and be not hastie to credite him.}

⁸ {cf2 For some man is a friend for his owne occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.}

⁹ {cf2 And there is some friend that turneth to enimitie, and taketh part against thee, & in contentionhe will declare thy shame.}

¹⁰ {cf2 Againe some friend is but a companion at the table, and in the day of thine affliction he continueth not.}

¹¹ {cf2 But in thy prosperitie he will be as thou thy selfe, and wil vse libertie ouer thy seruants.}

¹² {cf2 If thou be brought lowe, he will be against thee, and wil hide himselfe from thy face.}

¹³ {cf2 Depart from thine enemies, and beware of thy friendes.}

¹⁴ {cf2 A faithfull friend is a strong defence, and he that findeth such one, findeth a treasure.}

¹⁵ {cf2 A faithfull friende ought not to be changed for any thing, & the weight of golde and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnes of his faith.}

¹⁶ {cf2 A faithfull friend is the medicine of life and immortalitie, and they that feare the Lorde, shall finde him.}

¹⁷ {cf2 Who so feareth the Lorde, shall direct his friendship aright, and as his owne selfe, so shall his friende be.}

¹⁸ {cf2 My sonne, receiue doctrine from thy youth vp: so shalt thou finde wisdome which shal indure till thine olde age.}

¹⁹ {cf2 Goe to her as one that ploweth, and soweth, and wayte for her good fruites: for thou shalt haue but litle labour in her worke: but thou shalt eate of her fruites right soone.}

²⁰ {cf2 How exceeding sharpe is shee to the vnlearned? He that is without iudgement, wil not remaine with her.}

²¹ {cf2 Vnto such one shee is as a fine touchstone, and he casteth her from him without delay.}

²² {cf2 For they haue the name of wisedome, but there be but fewe that haue the knowledge of her.}

²³ {cf2 For with them that know her, shee abideth vnto the appearing of God.}

²⁴ {cf2 Giue eare, my sonne: receiue my doctrine, & refuse not my counsel,}

²⁵ {cf2 And put thy feete into her linkes, and thy necke into her chayne.}

²⁶ {cf2 Bow downe thy shoulder vnto her, & beare her, and be not weary of her bandes.}

²⁷ {cf2 Come vnto her with thy whole heart, and keepe her wayes with all thy power.}

²⁸ {cf2 Seeke after her, and search her, and shee shal be shewed thee: and when thou hast gotten her, forsake her not.}

²⁹ {cf2 For at the last thou shalt finde rest in her, & that shalbe turned to thy ioy.}

³⁰ {cf2 Then shal her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a sure foundation and her chaines a glorious rayment.}

³¹ {cf2 For there is a golden ornament in her, and her handes are the laces of purple colour.}

³² {cf2 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her vpon thee, as a crowne of ioy.}

³³ {cf2 My sonne, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught, & if thou wilt apply thy minde, thou shalt be witty.}

³⁴ {cf2 If thou loue to heare, thou shalt receiue doctrine, and if thou delight in hearing, thou shalt be wise.}

³⁵ {cf2 Stand with the multitude of ye Elders, which are wise, and ioyne with him that is wise.}

³⁶ {cf2 Desire to heare al godly talke, & let not the graue sentences of knowledge escape thee.}

³⁷ {cf2 And if thou seest a man of vnderstanding, get thee soone vnto him, and let thy foote weare the steppes of his doores.}

³⁸ {cf2 Let thy minde be vpon the ordinances of the Lord, & be continually occupyed in his commadements: so shall he stablish thine heart, and giue thee wisdome at thine owne desire.}