Глава 37

Without forgetting your friend in your soul, do not forget him in your possessions. Be careful when choosing an advisor. Be prudent and attentive to what you saturate your body and soul with. Sir.37:1 Every friend can say: “And I became friends with him.” But a friend by name is only a friend. Sir.37:2 Isn’t this grief unto death, when a friend and friend turns into an enemy? Sir.37:3 Oh, evil thought! from where did you invade to cover the earth with deceit? Sir.37:4 A friend rejoices when his friend is happy, but in his time of sorrow it will be against him. Sir.37:5 A friend helps a friend in his labors for the sake of his belly, and in case of war he will take up the shield. 5. Will take up a shield against a friend. Sir.37:6 Do not forget the friend in your soul and do not forget him in your possessions. Sir.37:7 Every adviser praises his own advice, but another advises in his own favor; Sir.37:8 Guard your soul from the adviser and find out in advance what he needs; for perhaps he will advise for himself; Sir.37:9 Perhaps he will cast lots on you and say to you: “Your way is good”; and he himself will stand opposite you to see what will happen to you. Sir.37:10 Do not consult with your ill-wisher and hide your intentions from your envious ones. Sir.37:11 Do not consult with your wife about her rival, or with a fearful man about war, with a seller about me, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about gratitude, Sir.37:12 with the unmerciful - about charity, with the lazy - about every deed, Sir.37:13 with an annual hireling - about finishing the work, with a lazy slave - about a lot of work: 13. With an annual mercenary - about the completion of work earlier than the agreed date. Sir.37:14 Do not rely on such people in any consultation, Sir.37:15 But always deal only with a pious man, of whom you know that he keeps the commandments of the Lord, Sir.37:16 who with his soul is after your soul and, in the event of your fall, will grieve with you. Sir.37:17 Keep the counsel of your heart, for there is no one more faithful to you than him; Sir.37:18 The soul of a person sometimes speaks more than seven observers sitting on a high place to observe. Sir.37:19 But with all this, pray to the Most High that He may direct your path in truth. Sir.37:20 The beginning of every action is reflection, and before every action, advice. Sir.37:21 Expression of heart change on the face. Four states are expressed on it: good and evil, life and death, and language always dominates. 21. Language always dominates, i.e. language is the primary means of revealing a person’s state of mind. Sir.37:22 Some people are skilled and teach many, but are of no use to their own soul. Sir.37:23 If someone is cunning in his speech, but is hated, he will be left without any food; Sir.37:24 For grace was not given to him from the Lord, and he is deprived of all wisdom. Sir.37:25 One is wise for his soul, and the fruits of knowledge on his lips are true. Sir.37:26 A wise man teaches his people, and the fruits of his knowledge are true. Sir.37:27 A wise man will abound in blessings, and all who see him will call him blessed. Sir.37:28 A person's life is determined by the number of days, and the days of Israel are countless. Sir.37:29 A wise man will gain the trust of his people, and his name will live forever. 22–29. Truly beneficial wisdom does not lie in much knowledge, much verbiage and the art of teaching, but in the ability to give and apply both to oneself and to others a real lesson in knowledge and life. Sir.37:30 My son! throughout your life, test your soul and observe what is harmful for it, and do not give it to it; Sir.37:31 For not everything is beneficial for everyone, and not every soul is disposed towards everything. Sir.37:32 Do not be satiated with every kind of sweetness and do not indulge in various foods, Sir.37:33 For overeating causes illness, and satiety leads to cholera; Sir.37:34 Many have died from satiety, but he who is abstinent will add life to himself.