6:14. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
6:15. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
6:16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
6:17. He that feareth G.o.d, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
6:18. My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
6:19. Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
6:20. For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
6:21. How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.
6:22. She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.
6:23. For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of G.o.d.
6:24. Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.
6:25. Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
6:26. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.
6:27. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.
6:28. Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
6:29. For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.
6:30. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
6:31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.
6:32. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.
6:33. My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
6:34. If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
6:35. Stand in the mult.i.tude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of G.o.d, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.
6:36. And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
6:37. Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of G.o.d, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 7
Religious and moral duties.
7:1. Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee.
7:2. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee.
7:3. My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
7:4. Seek not of the Lord a preeminence, nor of the king the seat of honour.
7:5. Justify not thyself before G.o.d, for he knoweth the heart: and desire not to appear wise before the king.
7:6. Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person of the powerful, and lay a stumblingblock for thy integrity.
7:7. Offend not against the mult.i.tude of a city, neither cast thyself in upon the people,
7:8. Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one thou shalt not be unpunished.
7:9. Be not fainthearted in thy mind:
7:10. Neglect not to pray, and to give alms.
7:11. Say not: G.o.d will have respect to the mult.i.tude of my gifts, and when I offer to the most high G.o.d, he will accept my offerings.
7:12. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one that humbleth and exalteth, G.o.d who seeth all.
7:13. Devise not a lie against thy brother: neither do the like against thy friend.
7:14. Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.
7:15. Be not full of words in a mult.i.tude of ancients, and repeat not the word in thy prayer.
Repeat not, etc... Make not much babbling by repet.i.tion of words: but aim more at fervour of heart.
7:16. Hate not laborious works, nor husbandry ordained by the most High.
7:17. Number not thyself among the mult.i.tude of the disorderly.
7:18. Remember wrath, for it will not tarry long.
7:19. Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of the unG.o.dly is fire and worms.
7:20. Do not transgress against thy friend deferring money, nor despise thy dear brother for the sake of gold.
7:21. Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom thou hast gotten in the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her modesty is above gold.
7:22. Hurt not the servant that worketh faithfully, nor the hired man that giveth thee his life.
7:23. Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul, defraud him not of liberty, nor leave him needy.