True Friends and Sound Counsel
Sirach 37
The chapter distinguishes a true friend from one who is a friend only in name or only for personal advantage, and warns against trusting counsel from those with a private interest, urging instead reliance on a godly friend, one's own heart, and prayer for guidance. It closes by praising the wise man who benefits his people and by counseling moderation in eating, since excess brings sickness.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
1
BrentonEvery friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.
GreekΠὰς φίλος ἐρεῖ, ἐφιλίασα αὐτῷ κᾷγώ· ἀλλʼ ἔστι φίλος ὀνόματι μόνον φίλος.
2
BrentonIs it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
GreekΟὐχὶ λύπη ἔνι ἕως θανάτου, ἑταῖρος καὶ φίλος τρεπόμενος εἰς ἔχθραν;
3
BrentonO wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?
GreekὮ πονηρὸν ἐνθύμημα, πόθεν ἐνεκυλίσθης καλύψαι τὴν ξηρὰν ἐν δολιότητι;
4
BrentonThere is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.
GreekἙταῖρος φίλου ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἥδεται, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ἔσται ἀπέναντι·
5
BrentonThere is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.
GreekἘταῖρος φίλῳ συμπονεῖ χάριν γαστρὸς, ἔναντι πολέμου λήψεται ἀσπίδα.
6
BrentonForget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
GreekΜὴ ἐπιλάθῃ φίλου ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου, καὶ μὴ ἀμνημονήσῃς αὐτοῦ ἐν χρήμασί σου.
7
BrentonEvery counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.
GreekΠᾶς σύμβουλος ἐξαίρει βουλὴν, ἀλλʼ ἔστι συμβουλεύων εἰς ἑαυτόν.
8
BrentonBeware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,
GreekἈπὸ συμβούλου φύλαξον τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ γνῶθι πρότερον τίς αὐτοῦ χρεία· καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ βουλεύσεται· μήποτε βάλῃ ἐπὶ σοὶ κλῆρον,
9
Brentonand say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
Greekκαὶ εἴπῃ σοι, καλὴ ἡ ὁδός σου· καὶ στήσεται ἐξ ἐναντίας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβησόμενόν σοι.
10
BrentonConsult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
GreekΜὴ βουλεύου μετὰ τοῦ ὑποβλεπομένου σε, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ζηλούντων σε κρύψον βουλήν.
11
BrentonNeither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
GreekΜετὰ γυναικὸς περὶ ἀντιζήλου αὐτῆς, καὶ μετὰ δειλοῦ περὶ πολέμου· μετὰ ἐμπόρου περὶ μεταβολίας, καὶ μετὰ ἀγοράζοντος περὶ πράσεως· μετὰ βασκάνου περὶ εὐχαριστίας, καὶ μετὰ ἀνελεήμονος περὶ χρηστοηθείας· μετὰ ὀκνηροῦ περὶ παντὸς ἔργου, καὶ μετὰ μισθίου ἐφεστίου περὶ συντελείας, οἰκέτῃ ἀργῷ περὶ πολλῆς ἐργασίας· μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τούτοις περὶ πάσης συμβουλίας.
12
BrentonBut be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.
GreekἈλλʼ ἢ μετὰ ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβοῦς ἐνδελέχιζε, ὃν ἂν ἐπιγνῷς συντηροῦντα ἐντολάς· ὃς ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ ἐὰν πταίσῃς, συναλγήσει σοι.
13
BrentonAnd let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it;
GreekΚαὶ βουλὴν καρδίας στῆσον, οὐ γάρ ἐστί σοι πιστότερος αὐτῆς·
14
Brentonfor a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
Greekψυχὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἀπαγγέλλειν ἐνίοτε εἴωθεν, ἢ ἑπτὰ σκοποὶ ἐπὶ μετεώρου καθήμενοι ἐπὶ σκοπῆς.
15
BrentonAnd above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις δεήθητι ὑψίστου, ἵνα εὐθύνῃ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τὴν ὁδόν σου.
16
BrentonLet reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.
GreekἈρχὴ παντὸς ἔργου λόγος, καὶ πρὸ πάσης πράξεως βουλή.
17
BrentonThe countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
GreekἼχνος ἀλλοιώσεως καρδίας.
18
BrentonFour manners of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
GreekΤέσσαρα μέρη ἀνατέλλει, ἀγαθὸν καὶ κακὸν, ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος, καὶ κυριεύουσα ἐνδελεχῶς αὐτῶν γλῶσσά ἐστιν.
19
BrentonThere is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.
GreekἜστιν ἀνὴρ πανοῦργος καὶ πολλῶν παιδευτὴς, καὶ τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ ἄχρηστός ἐστιν.
20
BrentonThere is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.
GreekἜστι σοφιζόμενος ἐν λόγοις μισητὸς, οὗτος πάσης τροφῆς καθυστερήσει,
21
BrentonFor grace is not given him from the Lord; because he is deprived of all wisdom.
Greekοὐ γὰρ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ παρὰ Κυρίου χάρις, ὅτι πάσης σοφίας ἐστερήθη.
22
BrentonAnother is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
GreekἜστι σοφὸς τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ, καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ στόματος πιστοί.
23
BrentonA wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.
GreekἈνὴρ σοφὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαὸν παιδεύσει, καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ πιστοί.
24
BrentonA wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.
GreekἈνὴρ σοφὸς πλησθήσεται εὐλογίας, καὶ μακαριοῦσιν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ ὁρῶντες.
25
BrentonThe days of the life of man may be numbered; but the days of Israel are innumerable.
GreekΖωὴ ἀνδρὸς ἐν ἀριθμῷ ἡμερῶν, καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἀναρίθμητοι.
26
BrentonA wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
GreekὉ σοφὸς ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ κληρονομήσει πίστιν, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
27
BrentonMy son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
GreekΤέκνον, ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου πείρασον τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ ἴδε τί πονηρὸν αὐτῇ, καὶ μὴ δῷς αὐτῇ.
28
BrentonFor all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.
GreekΟὐ γὰρ πάντα πᾶσι συμφέρει, καὶ οὐ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐν παντὶ εὐδοκεῖ.
29
BrentonBe not insatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:
GreekΜὴ ἀπληστεύου ἐν πάσῃ τρυφῇ, καὶ μὴ ἐκχυθῇς ἐπὶ ἐδεσμάτων·
30
Brentonfor excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.
Greekἐν πολλοῖς γὰρ βρώμασιν ἔσται πόνος, καὶ ἡ ἀπληστία ἐγγιεῖ ἕως χολέρας.
31
BrentonBy surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.
GreekΔιʼ ἀπληστίαν πολλοὶ ἐτελεύτησαν, ὁ δὲ προσέχων προσθήσει ζωήν.