Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach 37

(ⲁ︦) ϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲁϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲓ̈ⲣ̅ϣⲃⲏⲣ ϩⲱ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ ϣⲃⲏⲣ. (1) Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.
(ⲃ︦) ⲙⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ⲗⲩⲡⲏ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ϣⲁϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲉⲩⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲕ ⲉϣⲁⲩⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧϫⲁϫⲉ; (2) Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
(ⲅ︦) ⲱ ⲡⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕⲉⲓ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲃ̅ⲥ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲕⲣⲟϥ; (3) O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?
(ⲇ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϣⲃⲏⲣ ϩⲏⲇⲁⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϣⲃⲏⲣ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲛⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ ϥⲛⲁϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲏϥ. (4) There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.
(ⲉ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϣⲃⲏⲣ ϣⲡ̅ϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϥϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲛⲁϫⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϭⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲙ̅ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲟⲗⲉⲙⲟⲥ. (5) There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.
(ⲋ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲕϣⲃⲏⲣ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲕϩⲏⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ⲡⲱⲃϣ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲕϣⲃⲏⲣ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕⲣⲏⲙⲁ. (6) Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
(ⲍ︦) ⲣⲉϥϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩⲛⲉⲥ ⲟⲩϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲣⲉϥϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲁⲁϥ. (7) Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.
(ⲏ︦) ⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲧⲉⲕⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉⲣⲉϥϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ϣⲟⲣⲡ̅ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲁϩⲉ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩ; (8) Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath;
(ⲑ︦) ⲕⲁⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ϥⲛⲁϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲁⲁϥ ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ⲛϥ̅ⲛⲉϫ ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲱⲕ for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,
(ⲓ︦) ⲛϥ̅ϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲕ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ⲧⲉⲕϩⲓⲏ ⲛϥ̅ⲁϩⲉ ⲣⲁⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲕⲙ̅ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲕ. (9) And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
(ⲓ︦ⲁ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲛ̅ⲉⲓ̈ⲁⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲕ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲱⲡ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲕϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛ ⲉⲧⲕⲱϩ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ. (10) Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
(ⲓ︦ⲃ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲉⲥⲕⲟⲓ̈ϩⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϭⲱⲃ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩⲡⲟⲗⲉⲙⲟⲥ (11) Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war;
(ⲓ︦ⲅ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲉϣⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲁⲃⲟⲗⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧϣⲱⲡ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϯ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲉⲣⲃⲟⲟⲛⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲉϥϯ nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness;
(ⲓ︦ⲇ︦) ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲁⲧⲛⲁ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲛⲁⲏⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϫⲛⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work;
(ⲓ︦ⲉ︦) ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ̈ⲃⲉⲕⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲏⲏⲛⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲁⲣⲅⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ. nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business:
(ⲓ︦ⲋ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲕⲁ ϩⲧⲏⲕ ⲉⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
(ⲓ︦ⲍ︦) ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲕⲛⲁⲧⲁϣⲟⲕ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲣⲙ̅ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲕ̅ⲛⲁⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ϥⲛⲁⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ. (12) But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord,
(ⲓ︦ⲏ︦) ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ... ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛϫⲱⲣⲡ̅ ϥⲛⲁϣⲡ̅ϩⲓⲥⲉ ... whose, mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry. (13) And let the counsel of thine own heart stand:
(ⲓ︦ⲑ︦) ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ϩⲟⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛⲁⲕ. for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.
(ⲕ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲧⲟⲛⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϩⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲡ ⲉϩⲟⲩ ⲉⲥⲁϣϥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩϩⲙ̅ⲟⲟⲥ ⲉⲩϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ϩⲓ ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲉϥϫⲟⲥⲉ. (14) For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
(ⲕ︦ⲁ︦) ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲥⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϫⲟⲥⲉ ϫⲉ ϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕϩⲓⲏ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲙⲉ. (15) And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
(ⲕ︦ⲃ︦) ⲧⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲑⲁⲏ ⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲟϫⲛⲉ. (16) Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.
(ⲕ︦ⲅ︦) ⲡⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲓⲃⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲫⲏⲧ. (17) The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
(ⲕ︦ⲇ︦) ϥⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ: ⲡⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲡⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ: ⲡⲉⲧⲟ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲡ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲗⲁⲥ. (18) Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
(ⲕ︦ⲉ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥϯⲥⲃⲱ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲩⲁⲧϣⲁⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲙ̅ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. (19) There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.
(ⲕ︦ⲋ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧϯ ⲥⲁⲕ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲉⲥⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ: ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲛⲁⲣ̅ϭⲣⲱϩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲣⲩⲫⲏ ⲛⲓⲙ. (20) There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.
(ⲕ︦ⲍ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩϯ ⲛⲉϥⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩϩⲟⲩⲣⲱⲱϥ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ. (21) For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
(ⲕ︦ⲏ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲟ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ .ⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲧ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ. (22) Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
(ⲕ︦ⲑ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ϯⲥⲃⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲧ. (23) A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.
(ⲗ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛⲁⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟϥ. (24) A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.
(ⲗ︦ⲁ︦) ⲡⲁϩⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲏⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲛ̅ ⲁⲧⲏⲡⲉ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲣⲁⲏⲗ. (25) The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
(ⲗ︦ⲃ︦) ⲡⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲛⲁⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲛ̅ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ. (26) A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
(ⲗ︦ⲅ︦) ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲯⲩⲭⲏ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲕⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲛⲅ̅ⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲥ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲥ. (27) My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
(ⲗ︦ⲇ︦) ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲣ̅ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲧⲏⲧ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ. (28) For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.
(ⲗ︦ⲉ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ⲁⲧⲥⲉⲓ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲩⲫⲏ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲡⲟⲣϣⲕ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ϩⲛ̅ ϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲟⲟⲙ. (29) Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:
(ⲗ︦ⲋ︦) ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲅⲁⲣ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲱⲙ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ϣⲱⲛⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲉⲓ ϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲩⲭⲟⲗⲏ. (30) For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.
(ⲗ︦ⲍ︦) ⲁ ϩⲁϩ ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ... ⲡⲉⲧ .... (31) By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.