Sirach 6

Bishops(i) 1 Be not of a friende an enemie, for such a man getteth an euyll name, shame, and rebuke: and whosoeuer beareth enuie & a double tongue, offendeth. 2 Be not proude in the deuice of thine owne vnderstanding, lest thy soule rent thee as a bull, 3 And lest thy leaues wyther, and thy fruite be destroyed, and so thou be left as a drye tree in the wildernesse. 4 For a wicked soule destroyeth hym that hath it, maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies, and bryngeth him to the portion of the vngodly. 5 A sweete worde multiplieth friendes, & pacifieth them that be at variaunce: and a thankfull tongue wyll be plenteous in a good man. 6 Holde friendship with many, neuerthelesse haue but one counsellour of a thousande. 7 If thou gettest a friende, proue him first, and be not hastye to geue him credence. 8 For some man is a friende but for his owne turne, and wyll not abyde in the day of trouble. 9 And there is some friend that turneth to enimitie, and taketh part agaynst thee: and if he knowe any hurt by thee, he telleth it out. 10 Agayne, some friende is but a companion at the table, and in the day of neede he continueth not. 11 But in thy prosperitie he wyll be as thou thy selfe, and deale playnly with thy housholde folke. 12 If thou be brought lowe he wyll be agaynst thee, and wyll be hidden from thy face. 13 Depart from thyne enemies, yea and beware of thy friendes. 14 A faythfull friende is a strong defence, who so findeth such one, fyndeth a treasure. 15 A faythfull friende hath no peare, the wayght of golde and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnesse of his fayth. 16 A faythfull friende is a medicine of lyfe and immortalitie, and they that feare the Lorde shall fynde hym. 17 Who so feareth the Lorde, shall prosper with friendes: and as he is hym selfe, so shall his friende be also. 18 My sonne receaue doctrine from thy youth vp, so shalt thou fynde wisdome tyll thou be olde. 19 Go to her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wayte patiently for her good fruites: For thou shalt haue but litle labour in her worke, but thou shalt eate of her fruites ryght soone. 20 O howe exceeding sharpe is wisdome to vnlearned men? an vnstedfast body wyll not remayne in her. 21 Unto such she is as it were a touchestone, and he casteth her from him in all the haste. 22 For wisdome is with him but in name, there be but fewe that haue knowledge of her. 23 But with them that knowe her, she abideth euen vnto the appearyng of God. 24 Geue eare my sonne, receaue my doctrine, and refuse not my counsayle. 25 Put thy foote into her lynckes, and take her yoke vpon thy necke. 26 Bowe downe thy shoulder vnder her, beare her patiently, and be not weery of her bandes. 27 Come vnto her with thy whole heart, and kepe her wayes with al thy power. 28 Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed thee: and when thou hast her, forsake her not. 29 For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her, and that shalbe turned to thy great ioy. 30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her yoke a glorious rayment. 31 For there is a golden ornament in her, & her bandes are laces of purple colour. 32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crowne of ioy. 33 My sonne, yf thou wylt take heede, thou shalt haue vnderstandyng, and yf thou wylt apply thy mynde, thou shalt be wyse. 34 If thou wylt bowe downe thine eare, thou shalt receaue doctrine: and yf thou delyte in hearyng, thou shalt be wyse. 35 Stande with the multitude of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, and consent vnto their wisdome with thyne heart. 36 That thou mayest heare all godly sermons, and that the worthy sentences escape thee not. 37 And yf thou seest a man of discrete vnderstandyng, get thee soone vnto hym, & let thy foote treade vpon the steppes of his doores. 38 Let thy mynde be vpon the commaundementes of God, and be earnestlye occupied in his lawes: so shall he stablishe thy heart, and geue thee wisdome at thyne owne desire.