> [[sirach-05|← Previous]] | [[sirach-00|TOC]] | [[sirach-07|Next →]] --- # Sirach, Chapter 6 ## Chapter 6 1 Do not be a foe instead of a friend. ^sirach-06-1 A bad name, disgrace, and dishonor you will inherit. Thus the wicked, the double-tongued! ### Unruly Passions 2 Do not fall into the grip of your passion, ^sirach-06-2 lest like fire it consume your strength. 3 It will eat your leaves and destroy your fruits, ^sirach-06-3 and you will be left like a dry tree. 4 For fierce passion destroys its owner ^sirach-06-4 and makes him the sport of his enemies. ### True Friendship 5 Pleasant speech multiplies friends, ^sirach-06-5 and gracious lips, friendly greetings. 6 Let those who are friendly to you be many, ^sirach-06-6 but one in a thousand your confidant. 7 When you gain friends, gain them through testing, ^sirach-06-7 and do not be quick to trust them. 8 For there are friends when it suits them, ^sirach-06-8 but they will not be around in time of trouble. 9 Another is a friend who turns into an enemy, ^sirach-06-9 and tells of the quarrel to your disgrace. 10 Others are friends, table companions, ^sirach-06-10 but they cannot be found in time of affliction. 11 When things go well, they are your other self, ^sirach-06-11 and lord it over your servants. 12 If disaster comes upon you, they turn against you ^sirach-06-12 and hide themselves. 13 Stay away from your enemies, ^sirach-06-13 and be on guard with your friends. 14 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; ^sirach-06-14 whoever finds one finds a treasure. 15 Faithful friends are beyond price, ^sirach-06-15 no amount can balance their worth. 16 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; ^sirach-06-16 those who fear God will find them. 17 Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship, ^sirach-06-17 for as they are, so will their neighbors be. ### Blessings of Wisdom 18 My child, from your youth choose discipline; ^sirach-06-18 and when you have gray hair you will find wisdom. 19 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; ^sirach-06-19 then wait for her bountiful crops. For in cultivating her you will work but little, and soon you will eat her fruit. 20 She is rough ground to the fool! ^sirach-06-20 The stupid cannot abide her. 21 She will be like a burdensome stone to them, ^sirach-06-21 and they will not delay in casting her aside. 22 For discipline is like her name, ^sirach-06-22 she is not accessible to many. 23 Listen, my child, and take my advice; ^sirach-06-23 do not refuse my counsel. 24 Put your feet into her fetters, ^sirach-06-24 and your neck under her yoke. 25 Bend your shoulders and carry her ^sirach-06-25 and do not be irked at her bonds. 26 With all your soul draw close to her; ^sirach-06-26 and with all your strength keep her ways. 27 Inquire and search, seek and find; ^sirach-06-27 when you get hold of her, do not let her go. 28 Thus at last you will find rest in her, ^sirach-06-28 and she will become your joy. 29 Her fetters will be a place of strength; ^sirach-06-29 her snare, a robe of spun gold. 30 Her yoke will be a gold ornament; ^sirach-06-30 her bonds, a purple cord. 31 You will wear her as a robe of glory, ^sirach-06-31 and bear her as a splendid crown. 32 If you wish, my son, you can be wise; ^sirach-06-32 if you apply yourself, you can be shrewd. 33 If you are willing to listen, you can learn; ^sirach-06-33 if you pay attention, you can be instructed. 34 Stand in the company of the elders; ^sirach-06-34 stay close to whoever is wise. 35 Be eager to hear every discourse; ^sirach-06-35 let no insightful saying escape you. 36 If you see the intelligent, seek them out; ^sirach-06-36 let your feet wear away their doorsteps! 37 Reflect on the law of the Most High, ^sirach-06-37 and let his commandments be your constant study. Then he will enlighten your mind, and make you wise as you desire. \* (6:1) Thus…double-tongued!: people will say this against those disgraced by lying and double-talk. \* (6:5] – [17) One of several poems Ben Sira wrote on friendship; see also [9:10] – [16]; [12:8] – [18]; [13:1] – [23]; [19:13] – [17]; [22:19] – [26]; [27:16] – [21]. True friends are discerned not by prosperity (v. [11]), but through the trials of adversity: distress, quarrels (v. [9]), sorrow (v. [10]) and misfortune (v. [12]). Such friends are rare, a gift from God (vv. [14] – [17]). \* (6:18] – [37) The various figures in each of the eight stanzas urge the search for wisdom through patience (vv. [18] – [19]), persistence (vv. [20] – [22]), docility and perseverance (vv. [23] – [28]). Wisdom bestows rich rewards (vv. [29] – [31]) on those who apply themselves and learn from the wise (vv. [32] – [36]). Although one must strive for wisdom, it is God who grants it (v. [37]). Cf. [4:11] – [19]. \* (6:22) Discipline: *musar* (in the sense of wisdom) is a perfect homonym for *musar*, “removed, withdrawn”; thus the path of discipline is not accessible to many. a. (6:2] – [3) [Sir 9:8]; [23:16]; [25:21]; [41:20], [22]; [Jb 31:12]. b. (6:7] – [9) [[sirach-12|Sir 12]]:8 – [9]; [37:1] – [5]; [Prv 19:4]. c. (6:30) [Is 62:3]. d. (6:35) [Sir 8:8] – [9]. e. (6:37) ([[psalm-01|Ps 1]]:2]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[sirach-05|← Previous]] | [[sirach-00|TOC]] | [[sirach-07|Next →]]