Chapter 6

¹Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued. ²Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly, ³And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness. ⁴For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked. ⁵A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth. ⁶Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor. ⁷If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily. ⁸For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble. ⁹And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches. ¹⁰And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress. ¹¹A friend ii he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household. ¹²If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good. ¹³Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends. ¹⁴A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure. ¹⁵Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity. ¹⁶A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him. ¹⁷He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be. ¹⁸My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom. ¹⁹Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: ²⁰For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits. ²¹How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her. ²²She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long. ²³For 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 God. ²⁴Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice. ²⁵Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains: ²⁶Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands. ²⁷Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power. ²⁸Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go: ²⁹For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy. ³⁰Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory: ³¹For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding. ³²Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy. ³³My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise. ³⁴If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise. ³⁵Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee. ³⁶And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors. ³⁷Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.