Chapter 37

  Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?  

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  But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.  

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  O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?  

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  There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.  

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  There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.  

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  Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.  

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  Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.  

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  Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.  

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  Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:  

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  Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:  

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  Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.  

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  Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,  

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  Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work  

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  Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.  

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  But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,  

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  Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.  

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  And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.  

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  The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to watch.  

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  But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.  

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  In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.  

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  A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.  

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  A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.  

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  He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.  

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  Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.  

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  There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.  

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  A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.  

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  A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.  

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  The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.  

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  A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.  

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  My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:  

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  For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.  

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  Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:  

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  For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.  

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  By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.  

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