---
title: "Sirach 37 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/sirach/37/
description: "Of the choice of friends and counsellors. Sirach 37 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Sirach 37

Sirach 37 is chapter 37 of 51 in the Book of Sirach. Here are all 34 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Of the choice of friends and counsellors.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Sirach 37 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Every friend will say: “I also am a close friend.” But there is a friend who is a friend in name only. Is this not a grief even unto death?
2. But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.
3. O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?
4. A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.
5. There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.
6. You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.
7. Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.
8. Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.
9. Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.
10. Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:
11. “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.
12. Do not discuss holiness with an irreligious man, nor justice with one who is unjust. You should not speak with a woman about her who is a rival, nor with a coward about war, nor with a merchant about exaggeration, nor with a buyer about selling, nor with a spiteful man about giving thanks,
13. nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,
14. nor with a worker hired for a year about the end of the year, nor with a lazy servant about great works. You should pay no heed to these persons in any matter of counsel.
15. But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,
16. whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.
17. And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.
18. At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.
19. But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.
20. In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.
21. A wicked word can change the heart. From the heart four kinds of things arise: good and evil, life and death. And the tongue is continually their ruler. There is a man who is an astute teacher of many, and yet this is useless to his own soul.
22. A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.
23. Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.
24. Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.
25. There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.
26. A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.
27. A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.
28. The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.
29. A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.
30. Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.
31. For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.
32. Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.
33. For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.
34. By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.

## Sirach 37 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Omnis amicus dicet: Et ego amicitiam copulavi: sed est amicus solo nomine amicus. Nonne tristitia inest usque ad mortem?
2. sodalis autem et amicus ad inimicitiam convertentur.
3. O præsumptio nequissima, unde creata es cooperire aridam malitia et dolositate illius?
4. Sodalis amico conjucundatur in oblectationibus, et in tempore tribulationis adversarius erit.
5. Sodalis amico condolet causa ventris, et contra hostem accipiet scutum.
6. Non obliviscaris amici tui in animo tuo, et non immemor sis illius in opibus tuis.
7. Noli consiliari cum eo qui tibi insidiatur, et a zelantibus te absconde consilium.
8. Omnis consiliarius prodit consilium, sed est consiliarius in semetipso.
9. A consiliario serva animam tuam: prius scito quæ sit illius necessitas: et ipse enim animo suo cogitabit:
10. ne forte mittat sudem in terram, et dicat tibi:
11. Bona est via tua: et stet e contrario videre quid tibi eveniat.
12. Cum viro irreligioso tracta de sanctitate, et cum injusto de justitia, et cum muliere de ea quæ æmulatur, cum timido de bello, cum negotiatore de trajectione, cum emptore de venditione, cum viro livido de gratiis agendis,
13. cum impio de pietate, cum inhonesto de honestate, cum operario agrario de omni opere,
14. cum operario annuali de consummatione anni, cum servo pigro de multa operatione. Non attendas his in omni consilio:
15. sed cum viro sancto assiduus esto, quemcumque cognoveris observantem timorem Dei:
16. cujus anima est secundum animam tuam, et qui, cum titubaveris in tenebris, condolebit tibi.
17. Cor boni consilii statue tecum: non est enim tibi aliud pluris illo.
18. Anima viri sancti enuntiat aliquando vera, quam septem circumspectores sedentes in excelso ad speculandum.
19. Et in his omnibus deprecare Altissimum, ut dirigat in veritate viam tuam.
20. Ante omnia opera verbum verax præcedat te, et ante omnem actum consilium stabile.
21. Verbum nequam immutabit cor: ex quo partes quatuor oriuntur: bonum et malum, vita et mors: et dominatrix illorum est assidua lingua. Est vir astutus multorum eruditor, et animæ suæ inutilis est.
22. Vir peritus multos erudivit, et animæ suæ suavis est.
23. Qui sophistice loquitur odibilis est: in omni re defraudabitur.
24. Non est illi data a Domino gratia, omni enim sapientia defraudatus est.
25. Est sapiens animæ suæ sapiens, et fructus sensus illius laudabilis.
26. Vir sapiens plebem suam erudit, et fructus sensus illius fideles sunt.
27. Vir sapiens implebitur benedictionibus, et videntes illum laudabunt.
28. Vita viri in numero dierum: dies autem Israël innumerabiles sunt.
29. Sapiens in populo hæreditabit honorem, et nomen illius erit vivens in æternum.
30. Fili, in vita tua tenta animam tuam, et si fuerit nequam non des illi potestatem:
31. non enim omnia omnibus expediunt, et non omni animæ omne genus placet.
32. Noli avidus esse in omni epulatione, et non te effundas super omnem escam:
33. in multis enim escis erit infirmitas, et aviditas appropinquabit usque ad choleram.
34. Propter crapulam multi obierunt: qui autem abstinens est adjiciet vitam.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).