1  Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued.

1  Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

2  You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness,

2  Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone.

3  which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert.

3  Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

4  For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious.

4  A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

5  A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man.

5  Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

6  Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor.

6  Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

7  If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily.

7  If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

8  For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation.

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

9  And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults.

9  And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.

10  And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need.

10  Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

11  A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household.

11  But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

12  If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship.

12  If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.

13  Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends.

13  Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

14  A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure.

15  Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity.

15  Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

16  A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one.

17  He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him.

17  Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

18  Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs.

18  My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

19  Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then wait for her good fruits.

19  Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

20  For in doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce.

20  She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

21  How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her.

21  She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

22  She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay.

22  For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.

23  For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God.

23  Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

24  Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice.

24  And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.

25  Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains.

25  Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

26  Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings.

26  Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.

27  Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength.

27  Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

28  Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her.

28  For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

29  For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight.

29  Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

30  Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be a robe of glory.

30  For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

31  For in her is the beauty of life, and her bindings are a healing bandage.

31  Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.

32  You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing.

32  My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.

33  Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise.

33  If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,

34  If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise.

34  Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

35  Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you.

35  Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

36  And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down the steps of his doors.

36  And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

37  Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you.

37  Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.

7:1  Do not choose to do evil, and evil will not take hold of you.

1  Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.

7:2  Withdraw from the iniquitous, and evil will withdraw from you.

2  Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.

7:3  Son, do not sow evil in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap them sevenfold.

3  My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.

7:4  Do not seek a role of leadership from the Lord, and do not seek a seat of honor from the king.

4  Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.

7:5  You should not justify yourself before God, for he is the Knower of hearts. And by no means should you wish to seem wise before the king.

5  justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.

7:6  Do not seek to become a judge, unless you have sufficient strength to shatter iniquities. Otherwise, you might fear the face of the powerful, and so establish a scandal within your integrity.

6  Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.

7:7  You should not sin against the multitude of a city, nor should you cast yourself against the people.

7  Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.

7:8  And you should not bind two sins together. For even in one sin, you will not go unpunished.

8  Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.

7:9  Do not be cowardly in your soul.

9  Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.

7:10  You should not be unwilling to beg, nor to give alms.

10  Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.

7:11  You should not say: “God will look with favor on the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the most high God, he will accept my gift.”

7:12  You should not ridicule a man in bitterness of soul. For there is One who humbles and who exalts: the all-seeing God.

Sir7:11  Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.

7:13  Do not love a lie against your brother, nor should you act the same toward your friend.

Sir7:12  Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.

7:14  Do not be willing to devise a lie of any kind. For the practice of lying is not good.

Sir7:13  Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.

7:15  Do not choose to be verbose among a multitude of elders, and you should not repeat the words of your prayers.

Sir7:14  Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.

7:16  You should not hate laborious works, nor the rustic life created by the Most High.

Sir7:15  Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.

7:17  You should not consider yourself to be among the multitude of the undisciplined.

Sir7:16  Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.

7:18  Remember wrath. For it will not be delayed.

Sir7:17  Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.

7:19  Humble your spirit greatly. For the retribution against the flesh of the impious is with fire and worms.

7:20  Do not betray your friend for the sake of money, and you should not spurn your dearest brother for the sake of gold.

Sir7:18  Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.

7:21  Do not choose to depart from a good and understanding wife, whom you have been allotted in the fear of the Lord. For the grace of her modesty is above gold.

Sir7:19  Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.

7:22  You should not harm the servant whose works are honest, nor the hired hand who entrusts his life to you.

Sir7:20  Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.

7:23  Let an understanding servant be loved by you like your own soul. You should not cheat him out of freedom, nor abandon him to destitution.

Sir7:21  Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.

7:24  Are cattle yours? Tend to them. And if they are useful, let them remain with you.

Sir7:22  Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.

7:25  Are sons yours? Instruct them, and bow them down from their childhood.

Sir7:23  Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.

7:26  Are daughters yours? Watch over their bodies. And you should not display a light-hearted attitude toward them.

Sir7:24  Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.

7:27  Give your daughter in marriage, and give her to an understanding man, and you will be doing a great work.

Sir7:25  Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.

7:28  If a wife in accord with your soul is yours, you should not reject her. But do not entrust yourself to her who is hateful.

Sir7:26  Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.

7:29  With your whole heart, honor your father. And you should not forget the complaints of your mother.

Sir7:27  Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.

7:30  Remember that you would not have been born except through them. And so, give back to them as they also have done for you.

Sir7:28  Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?

7:31  With all your soul, fear the Lord, and consider his priests to be holy.

Sir7:29  Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.

7:32  With all your strength, love him who made you, and you should not abandon his ministers.

Sir7:30  Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.

7:33  Honor God from your whole soul, and confer honor on the priests, and continue to purify yourself with your strength.

Sir7:31  Fear the Lord, and honour the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.

7:34  Give them their portion, just as it has been commanded of you, from the first-fruits and from the purifications. And for your ignorant offenses, purify yourself with a smaller offering.

7:35  You should offer to the Lord the gift of your strength, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first-fruits of what is holy.

7:36  And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your atonement and your blessing may be perfected.

Sir7:32  And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.

7:37  A gift has grace in the sight of all the living, but you should not prohibit grace for the dead.

Sir7:33  A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.

7:38  You should not fail to console those who are weeping, nor to walk with those who are mourning.

Sir7:34  Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.

7:39  Do not let yourself be slow to visit the sick. For in this way, you will be confirmed in love.

Sir7:35  Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.

7:40  In all your works, remember your very end, and so you will not sin, unto eternity.

Sir7:36  Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.

8:1  You should not quarrel with a powerful man, lest perhaps you may fall into his hands.

1  Strive not with a mighty man’ lest thou fall into his hands.

8:2  You should not contend with a wealthy man, lest perhaps he may bring an action against you.

2  Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.

8:3  For gold and silver have destroyed many, and have reached and corrupted even the hearts of kings.

8:4  You should not quarrel with a man who is full of words, for you should not cast wood upon his fire.

Sir8:3  Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.

8:5  You should not confide in an ignorant man, lest he speak evil about your family.

Sir8:4  Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced.

8:6  You should not despise a man who turns himself away from sin, nor reproach him with it. Remember that we are all subject to correction.

Sir8:5  Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.

8:7  You should not spurn a man in his old age. For we are all subject to growing old.

Sir8:6  Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old.

8:8  Do not be willing to rejoice at the death of your enemy, knowing that we all die, and that we do not want others rejoice over us.

Sir8:7  Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all.

8:9  You should not despise the discourse of those who are old and wise; instead, ponder their proverbs.

Sir8:8  Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to serve great men with ease.

8:10  For from them, you will learn wisdom and intelligent doctrine, so as to serve great men without blame.

8:11  Do not allow the discourse of your elders to pass you by. For they have learned from their fathers.

Sir8:9  Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth.

8:12  And from them, you will learn understanding, and you will learn what response to give in a time of necessity.

8:13  You should not kindle the coals of sinners by arguing with them. For you might be scorched by the flame from the fire of their sins.

Sir8:10  Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire.

8:14  You should not stand against the face of a contemptuous person, otherwise he may sit down as if waiting in ambush against your words.

Sir8:11  Rise not up in anger at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words

8:15  You should not lend to a man who is stronger than you. But if you do lend, consider it lost.

Sir8:12  Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou lendest him, count it but lost.

8:16  You should not promise beyond your ability. But if you do promise, consider how to fulfill it.

Sir8:13  Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it.

8:17  You should not judge against a judge. For he judges according to what is just.

Sir8:14  Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour.

8:18  You should not go forth on the way with an audacious man, lest perhaps he may burden you with his evils. For he goes forth according to his own will, and you will perish with him in his folly.

Sir8:15  Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with him through his folly.

8:19  You should not start a conflict with an angry man, and you should not go into the desert with an audacious man. For shedding blood is nothing to him, and in a place where there is no help for you, he will overthrow you.

Sir8:16  Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee.

8:20  You should not hold counsel with the foolish. For they are not able to love anything except what pleases them.

Sir8:17  Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.

8:21  You should not take counsel in the sight of an outsider. For you do not know what he will do next.

Sir8:18  Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.

8:22  You should not reveal your heart to every man, lest perhaps he may offer a false kindness to you, and then speak reproachfully about you.

Sir8:19  Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn.