DENISON

[column A]

Si est tibi intelléctus, respónde próximo: sin autem, sit manus tua super os tuum, ne capiáris in verbo indisciplináto, et confundáris. Honor et glória in sermóne sensáti: lingua vero imprudéntis subvérsio est ipsíus. Non appélleris susúrro, et lingua tua ne capiáris et confundáris: super furem enim est confúsio et pœniténtia, et denotátio péssima super bilínguem: susurratóri autem ódium, et inimicítia, et contumélia. Justífica pusíllum et magnum simíliter. VI. Noli fíeri pro amíco inimícus próximo: impropérium enim et contuméliam malus hæreditábit: et omnis peccátor ínvidus et bilínguis. Non te extóllas in cogitatióne ánimæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidátur virtus tua per stultítiam: et fólia tua cómedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquáris velut lignum áridum in erémo. Ánima enim nequam dispérdet qui se habet, et in gáudium inimícis dat illum, et dedúcet in sortem impiórum. Verbum dulce multíplicat amícos et mítigat inimícos, et lingua eucháris in bono hómine abúndat. Multi pacífici sint tibi: et consiliárius sit tibi unus de mille. Si póssides amícum, in tentatióne pósside eum, et ne fácile credas ei. Est enim amícus secúndum tempus suum, et non permanébit in die tribulatiónis. Et est amícus qui convértitur ad inimicítiam, et est amícus qui ódium et rixam et convítia denudábit. Est autem amícus sócius mensæ, et non permanébit in die necessitátis. Amícus si permánserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæquális, et in domésticis tuis fiduciáliter aget. Si humiliáverit se contra te, et a fácie tua abscónderit se, unánimem habébis amicítiam bonam. Ab inimícis tuis separáre, et ab amícis tuis atténde. Amícus fidélis protéctio fortis: qui autem invénit illum, invénit thesáurum. Amíco fidéli nulla est comparátio, et non est digna ponderátio auri et argénti contra bonitátem fídei illíus. Amícus fidélis medicaméntum vitæ et immortalitátis: et qui métuunt Dóminum, invénient illum. Qui timet Deum æque habébit amicítiam bonam, quóniam secúndum illum erit amícus illíus.

Fili, a juventúte tua éxcipe doctrínam,

[column B]

et usque ad canos invénies sapiéntiam. Quasi is qui arat et séminat accéde ad eam, et sústine bonos fructus illíus. In ópere enim ipsíus exíguum laborábis, et cito edes de generatiónibus illíus. Quam áspera est nímium sapiéntia indóctis homínibus! et non permanébit in illa excors. Quasi lápidis virtus probátio erit in illis: et non demorabúntur projícere illam. Sapiéntia enim doctrínæ secúndum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestáta: quibus autem cógnita est, pérmanet usque ad conspéctum Dei. Audi, fili, et áccipe consílium intelléctus, et ne abjícias consílium meum. Ínjice pedem tuum in cómpedes illíus, et in torques illíus collum tuum. Súbjice húmerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedíeris vínculis ejus. In omni ánimo tuo accéde ad illam, et in omni virtúte tua consérva vias ejus. Invéstiga illam, et manifestábitur tibi: et cóntinens factus, ne derelínquas eam: in novíssimis enim invénies réquiem in ea, et convertétur tibi in oblectatiónem. Et erunt tibi cómpedes ejus in protectiónem fortitúdinis et bases virtútis, et torques illíus in stolam glóriæ: decor enim vitæ est in illa, et víncula illíus alligatúra salutáris. Stolam glóriæ índues eam, et corónam gratulatiónis superpónes tibi. Fili, si atténderis mihi, disces: et si accommodáveris ánimum tuum, sápiens eris. Si inclináveris aurem tuam, excípies doctrínam: et si diléxeris audíre, sápiens eris. In multitúdine presbyterórum prudéntium sta, et sapiéntiæ illórum ex corde conjúngere, ut omnem narratiónem Dei possis audíre, et provérbia laudis non effúgiant a te. Et si víderis sensátum, evígila ad eum, et gradus ostiórum illíus éxterat pes tuus. Cogitátum tuum habe in præcéptis Dei, et in mandátis illíus máxime assíduus esto: et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscéntia sapiéntiæ dábitur tibi. VII. Noli fácere mala, et non te apprehéndent: discéde ab iníquo, et defícient mala abs te. Fili, non sémines mala in sulcis injustítiæ, et non metes ea in séptuplum. Noli quaerere a Dómino ducátum, neque a rege cáthedram honóris. Non te justífices ante Deum, quóniam ágnitor

[Ecclesiasticus 5:14-7:5]

14 If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded. 15 Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of the fool is his ruin. 16 Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and confounded. 17 For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and enmity, and reproach. 18 Justify alike the small and the great.

1 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. 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.

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. 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: 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. 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.

1 Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee. 2 Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee. 3 My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold. 4 Seek not of the Lord a pre-eminence, nor of the king the seat of honour. 5 Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth...