Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach 6

(ⲁ︦) .......................: ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲕⲁ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ .... ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲛⲙ̅....: ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲉϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲗ̅ⲗⲁⲥ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (1) Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.
(ⲃ︦) ............ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲯⲩⲭⲏ ..... ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲥⲓ ..... (2) Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone.
(ⲅ︦) ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲕϭⲱⲱⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲧⲁⲕⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲕⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ: ⲛⲕ̅ⲕⲁⲁⲕ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓϣⲉ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲩⲱⲟⲩ. (3) Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.
(ⲇ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉⲥϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲧⲁⲕⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲛⲉϥϫⲁϫⲉ ⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. (4) A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.
(ⲉ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲧⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲛⲁⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅. (5) Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.
(ⲋ︦) ⲁⲣⲓⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ: ⲛⲉⲕⲣⲉϥϫⲓϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ϣⲟ. (6) Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.
(ⲍ︦) ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲕⲛⲁⲕⲁ ⲟⲩϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲕⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕϩⲓⲥⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲧⲁⲛϩⲟⲩⲧⲕ̅ ⲛⲉⲙⲁϥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ (7) If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.
(ⲏ︦) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲣⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲛⲛⲉϥϭⲱ ⲛ.. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ. (8) For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
(ⲑ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ϣⲃⲏⲣ ... ⲛⲉϥϭⲱⲗⲡ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅... (9) And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.
(ⲓ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ϣⲃⲏⲣ ............ .... ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲕ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ..... (10) Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
(ⲓ︦ⲁ︦) ........ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ......... ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ. (11) But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.
(ⲓ︦ⲃ︦) ........... ⲉϥⲛⲁϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲕ ......... (12) If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.
(ⲓ︦ⲅ︦) ............... ⲁⲩⲱ ϯϩⲧⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ. (13) Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
(ⲓ︦ⲇ︦) ⲟⲩϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲛⲁϣⲧⲉ ⲉⲥⲧⲁϫⲣⲏⲩ ⲧⲉ: ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁϥϩⲉ ⲉⲩⲁϩⲟ. (14) A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.
(ⲓ︦ⲉ︦) ⲟⲩϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥϣⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ϣⲓ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲁⲛⲁⲓ̈. (15) Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.
(ⲓ︦ⲋ︦) ⲟⲩϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲡⲁϩⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲡⲉ: ⲛⲉⲧⲣ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲁϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. (16) A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.
(ⲓ︦ⲍ︦) ⲛⲉⲧⲣ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϣⲁⲩⲥⲟⲟⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧϣⲃⲏⲣ: ϫⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲣⲟϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ. (17) Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.
(ⲓ︦ⲏ︦) ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ϫⲓⲛ ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲕⲟⲩⲓ̈ ⲥⲱⲧⲡ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲥⲃⲱ ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕϩⲉ ⲉⲩⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ϣⲁ ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲛ̅ⲧϩⲗ̅ⲗⲟ. (18) My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.
(ⲓ︦ⲑ︦) ϯ ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲟⲓ̈ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲕⲁⲓ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲉⲧϫⲟ: ⲛⲅ̅ϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ. (19) Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
(ⲕ︦) ⲕⲛⲁϣⲡ̅ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ ⲛ̅ϩⲓⲥⲉ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲱⲃ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲛⲁⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥϭⲣⲱϭ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ. for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
(ⲕ︦ⲁ︦) ϣⲁⲥⲣ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲁⲧⲥⲃⲱ ϭⲱ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲥ̅. (20) She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.
(ⲕ︦ⲃ︦) ⲥⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲱϥ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ϫⲓϫⲛⲓⲧ ⲛ̅ϭⲟⲙ ................ ⲉⲛⲟϫⲥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. (21) She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.
(ⲕ︦ⲅ︦) .....................ⲡⲉⲥⲣⲁⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ. (22) For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.
(ⲕ︦ⲇ︦) ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲅ̅ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥⲃⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲕⲱ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁϣⲟϫⲛⲉ. (23) Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,
(ⲕ︦ⲉ︦) ϯ ⲛⲉⲕⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲛⲉⲥⲡⲁⲓⲇⲉⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲕⲙⲁⲕϩ̅ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲛⲉⲥⲕⲗⲁⲗ. (24) And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.
(ⲕ︦ⲋ︦) ⲕⲁ ⲧⲉⲕⲛⲁϩⲃⲉ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲅ̅ϥⲓ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲥⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲙⲣ̅ⲣⲉ. (25) Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.
(ⲕ︦ⲍ︦) ϯ ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲕϭⲟⲙ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̅ ⲛⲅ̅ϩⲁϩⲉϩ ⲉⲛⲉⲥϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲕⲛⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̅. (26) Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.
(ⲕ︦ⲏ︦) ϩⲟⲧϩⲧ̅ ⲛⲅ̅ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲛⲁⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ: ⲛⲅ̅ⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. (27) Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.
(ⲕ︦ⲑ︦) ⲕⲛⲁϩⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲙ̅ⲧⲟⲛ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲕϩⲁⲏ ⲛ̅ⲥⲕⲟⲧⲥ̅ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲛⲟϥ. (28) For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.
(ⲗ︦) ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲡⲁⲓⲇⲉⲥ ⲣ̅ϩⲁⲉⲓⲃⲉⲥ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛ̅ϭⲟⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲓⲕⲗⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛ̅ⲉⲟⲟⲩ. (29) Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.
(ⲗ︦ⲁ︦) ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲱⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲱⲥ ⲛ̅ϩⲩⲁⲕⲓⲛⲑⲓⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲙⲣ̅ⲣⲉ. (30) For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.
(ⲗ︦ⲃ︦) ⲕⲛⲁⲧⲁⲁⲥ ϩⲓⲱⲱⲕ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛ̅ⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲁⲗⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲱⲕ ⲛ̅ⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲗⲏⲗ. (31) Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.
(ⲗ︦ⲅ︦) ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲕⲛⲁϫⲓⲥⲃⲱ: ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛ ϯ ⲡⲉⲕϩⲏⲧ ⲕⲛⲁⲣ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ. (32) My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.
(ⲗ︦ⲇ︦) ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛ....: ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛ.... ⲡⲉⲕⲙⲁⲁϫⲉ ⲕⲛⲁⲣ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ. (33) If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,
(ⲗ︦ⲉ︦) ⲁϩⲉ ⲣⲁⲧⲕ̅ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϩⲗ̅ⲗⲟ: ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲟϭⲕ̅ ⲉⲡⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ. (34) Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.
(ⲗ︦ⲋ︦) ⲟⲩⲉϣ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲛⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲣϩⲟⲓⲙⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲙ̅ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲧⲣⲉⲩⲣ̅ ⲡⲉⲕⲃⲟⲗ. (35) Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.
(ⲗ︦ⲍ︦) ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛϩⲉ ⲉⲩⲥⲁⲃⲉ ϣⲟⲣⲡ̅ⲕ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ: ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲧⲉⲕⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ ϩⲉⲧ ⲧⲡⲛ̅ⲛⲏ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ̈. (36) And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.
(ⲗ︦ⲏ︦) ⲙⲉⲕⲙⲟⲩⲕⲕ̅ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲟⲩⲉϩⲥⲁϩⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲅ̅ⲙⲉⲗⲉⲧⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ. (37) Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments:
(ⲗ︦ⲑ︦) ⲛ̅ⲧⲟϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲁϫⲣⲉ ⲡⲉⲕϩⲏⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲕ. he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.