1 Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name. (WEB) 2 Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy? (WEB) 3 O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit? (WEB) 4 There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him. (WEB) 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. (WEB) 6 Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches. (WEB) 7 Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest. (WEB) 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, (WEB) 9 and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you. (WEB) 10 Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. (WEB) 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. (WEB) 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. (WEB) 13 Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it. (WEB) 14 For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower. (WEB) 15 Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth. (WEB) 16 Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action. (WEB) 17 As a token of the changing of the heart, (WEB) 18 four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue. (WEB) 19 There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. (WEB) 20 There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food. (WEB) 21 For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom. (WEB) 22 There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth. (WEB) 23 A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy. (WEB) 24 A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him… (WEB)
Sirach 37:1–31
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 6:1–3
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. (WEB) 2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull. (WEB) 3 You will eat up yo… (WEB)
Sirach 8:16–18
16 Don’t fight with a wrathful man. Don’t travel with him through the desert, for blood is as nothing in his sight. Where there is no help, he will overthrow you. (WEB) 17 Don’t consult with a fool, for he will not be able to keep a secret. (WEB) 18 Do no secret thing before a stra… (WEB)
Wisdom of Solomon 7:27–29
27 Although she is one, she has power to do all things. Remaining in herself, she renews all things. From generation to generation passing into holy souls, she makes friends of God and prophets. (WEB) 28 For God loves nothing as much as one who dwells with wisdom. (WEB) 29 For she… (WEB)
Sirach 7:20–22
20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. (WEB) 21 Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of liberty. (WEB) 22 Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you. (WEB)
Sirach 4:21–23
21 For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace. (WEB) 22 Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling. (WEB) 23 Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety. Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of se… (WEB)
Sirach 9:1–3
1 Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. (WEB) 2 Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. (WEB) 3 Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. (WEB)
Sirach 25:8–10
8 Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding, he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him. (WEB) 9 Happy is he who has found prudence, and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen. (WEB) 10 How great is he who has f… (WEB)
Job 32:12–14
12 I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments. 13 So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’ 14 But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources