Open English Translation SIR Chapter 37

37 Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”;

but there’s a friend which is only a friend in name.

2 Isn’t there a grief in it even to death

when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?

3 Oh wicked imagination, why were you formed

to cover the dry land with deceit?

4 There’s a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend,

but in time of affliction will be against him.

5 There’s a companion who for the belly’s sake labours with his friend,

yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler.

6 Don’t forget a friend in your soul.

Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches.

7 Every counsellor extols counsel,

but some give counsel in their own interest.

8 Let your soul beware of a counsellor,

and know in advance what’s his interest

(for he’ll take counsel for himself),

in case he casts the lot against you,

9 and say to you, “Your way is good.”

Then he’ll stand near you, to see what’ll happen to you.

10 Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you.

Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.

11 Don’t consult with a woman about her rival,

with a coward about war,

with a merchant about business,

with a buyer about selling,

with an envious man about thankfulness,

with an unmerciful man about kindliness,

with a sluggard about any kind of work,

with a hireling in your house about finishing his work,

or with an idle servant about much business.

Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.

12 But rather be continually with a godly man,

whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,

who in his soul is as your own soul,

and who’ll grieve with you, if you fail.

13 Make the counsel of your heart stand,

for there’s no one more faithful to you than it.

14 Because a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him

better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower.

15 Above all this ask the Most High

that he may direct your way in truth.

16 Let reason be the beginning of every work.

Let counsel go before every action.

17 As a token of the changing of the heart,

18 four kinds of things rise up:

good and evil, life and death.

That which rules over them continually is the tongue.

19 There’s one who’s clever and the instructor of many,

and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

20 There’s one who’s subtle in words, and is hated.

He’ll be destitute of all food.

21 Because grace wasn’t given to him from the master,

because he’s deprived of all wisdom.

22 There’s one who’s wise to his own soul;

and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.

23 A wise man will instruct his own people.

The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.

24 A wise man will be filled with blessing.

All those who see him will call him happy.

25 A man’s life is counted by days.

The days of Yisrael (Israel) are innumerable.

26 The wise man will inherit confidence among his people.

His name will live forever.

27 My son, test your soul in your life.

See what’s evil for it, and don’t give in to it.

28 Because not all things are profitable for all men.

Not every soul has pleasure in everything.

29 Don’t be insatiable in any luxury.

Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat.

30 Because overeating brings disease,

and gluttony causes nausea.

31 Because of gluttony, many have perished,

but he who takes heed will prolong his life.