Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.
2 Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,
3 And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
4 For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.
5 A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
6 Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.
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7 If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.
8 For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.
10 And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.
11 A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.
12 If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
13 Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
15 Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
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18 My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
19 Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
20 For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
21 How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.
22 She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.
23 For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.
24 Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.
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25 Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
26 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.
27 Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.
28 Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
29 For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.
30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
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31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.
32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.
33 My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
34 If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
35 Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.
36 And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
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37 Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.
Bonaventure
“But who is the good counselor? Certainly that one of whom Ecclesiasticus says: 'Let many be at peace with you, but let one out of a thousand be your counselor.' One counselor, that is, Christ, of whom Isaiah says: 'His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.' He is the Angel of great counsel: this is he to whom we ought to attend with a pure heart.”
Rabanus Maurus
“The gift of a full and perfect friendship cannot last if it is not among people of similar virtue. And this is what the holy Fathers taught, establishing certain stages in order to arrive at a perfect and unchanging condition of friendship. They said that the first step of true friendship is to despise earthly things and all possessions. Second, everyone should put in check his own will in order to avoid thinking that he is the only wise and sensible person around, preferring his own opinions to those of his neighbor. Third, they said that he should know to defer everything, even the things that he considers useful and necessary, when it will benefit charity and peace. Fourth, he should be convinced that he must not anger himself for no reason at all, whether the anger is just or unjust. Fifth, he should desire that the anger of his brother be assuaged like his own, even if that anger rises against him without reason, knowing that the pain of the one is equally damaging to both; if he lashes out against someone else, he will make every effort to remove that offense of his brother as well. Finally, he should believe that every day might be his last, which sentiment undoubtedly brings about the death of any vice. This conviction not only leaves no place for any sadness in our heart but furthermore stops any movement of evil desire and impedes all sins. Whoever, then, respects these things cannot experience or carry out the bitterness of anger and discord.”
Augustine of Hippo
“The weakness and the corruptibility of the body are truly fetters that weigh down the soul. The body's fragility is like the material a persecutor could use for causing pain and suffering, thus forcing many of the saints into impiety. The apostle longed to be unbound from these fetters and to be with Christ, but to remain in the flesh was necessary for the sake of those to whom he was ministering the gospel. Until, then, this corruptible puts on incorruption, and this mortal puts on immortality, the weak flesh will imprison the willing spirit. No one feels these fetters except those who groan inwardly, who are burdened and wanting to be clothed with the tabernacle that is from heaven, because death is terrifying and mortal life brings sorrow. The prophet redoubles his own groaning in behalf of these individuals who are suffering so that their groaning may come before the sight of the Lord.Those who are bound by the disciplines of wisdom may also be understood to be fettered. But these disciplines, if patiently endured, can be turned into adornments, which is why it is written, "Put your feet into [wisdom's] fetters."”
Bonaventure
“Hence in Ecclesiasticus: 'Put your foot into her fetters and your neck into her chains. And her shackles shall be to you a protection of strength and a foundation of virtue, and her chains a robe of glory. For the beauty of life is in her, and her bonds are a binding of salvation.' You will say: 'To give a purgative medicine without a preparatory one is foolish.' I say that religious life has both purgative and preparatory medicine, because it tempers itself according to the capacity of those who receive it.”
Bonaventure
“Hence in Ecclesiasticus: 'Put your foot into her fetters and your neck into her chains. And her shackles shall be to you a protection of strength and a foundation of virtue, and her chains a robe of glory. For the beauty of life is in her, and her bonds are a binding of salvation.' I say that religious life has both purgative and preparatory medicine, because it tempers itself according to the capacity of those who receive it. Hence Augustine says: 'Let food and clothing be distributed to each of you by your superior, not equally to all, because you are not all equally well, but rather to each one as he shall have need.'”
Augustine of Hippo
“Andrew was Peter's brother, and we know from the Gospel that the Lord called Peter and Andrew from the ship, saying, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." And from that time they joined him and did not leave him. On the present occasion these two followed him, however, not as those who were not again to leave him but to see where he was living and to fulfill the Scripture, "Let your foot wear out the threshold of his doors; get up and come to him continually and be instructed in his commandments." He showed them where he lived. They came and remained with him.”