6 — Ecclesiasticus

1Instead 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.Non farti in vece d'amico, inimico del prossimo, conciossiachè l'uomo malvagio avrà in suo retaggio l'obbrobrio, e l'ignominia, particolarmente ogni peccatore di doppia lingua, e invidioso.BE not for a frend made an enemie to thy neighbour: for the euil man shal inherite reproch and contumelie, and euerie sinner enuious and duble tongued.Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo: / improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit: / et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis. 2Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,Non ti innalzare ne' pensieri dell'animo tuo come un toro, affinchè non avvenga, che il tuo valore resti schiacciato dalla tua stoltezza,Extol not thyself in the cogitation of thy soule as it were a bul: lest perhaps thy strength be quashed,Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, / ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam: 3And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.Ed ella consumi le tue foglie, e disperda i tuoi frutti, e tu rimanga come una pianta secca in mezzo al deserto.and it eate thy leaues, and destroy thy fruites, and thou be leaft as a drie tree in the wildernes.et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, / et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo. 4For 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.Perocché l'anima malvagia distrugge in chi ella si trova, e lo fa argomento di gaudio pei suoi nemici, e lo condurrà alla sorte degli empj.For a wicked soule shal destroy him that hath it, and it geueth him to be a ioy to his enemies, and shal lead him into the lot of the impious.Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, / et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, / et deducet in sortem impiorum. 5A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.La parola dolce moltiplica gli amici, e calma i nemici, e la lingua graziosa nell'uom virtuoso giova assai.A sweete word multiplieth frends, & appeaseth enemies, and a gratious tongue in a good man aboundeth.Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, / et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat. 6Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.Vivi in amistà co' molti, ma prendine uno di mille per tuo consigliere.Let there be manie at peace with thee, and let one of a thousand be thy counseler.Multi pacifici sint tibi: / et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.

7If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.Se ti fai un amico, fattelo dopo averlo sperimentato, e non ti fidar leggermente di lui.If thou possesse a frend, in tentation possesse him, and not easely credite him.Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, / et ne facile credas ei. 8For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.Perocché havvi chi è amico quando gli torna comodo, e non dura ad esserlo nel tempo della tribolazione.For he is a frend according to his owne time, and wil not abide in the day of tribulation.Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, / et non permanebit in die tribulationis. 9And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.E v'ha tal amico, che si cambia in nimico; e v'ha tal amico, che metterà fuori l'odio, e le acerbe querele, e gli strapazzi.And there is a frend that is turned to emnitie: and there is a frend that wil disclose hatred, and reproches.Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, / et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit. 10And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.E havvi qualche amico compagno di tavola, il quale sparisce nel giorno della necessità.And there is a frend companion at the table, and he wil not abide in the day of necessitie.Est autem amicus socius mensæ, / et non permanebit in die necessitatis. 11A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.Se l'amico persiste costante, egli sarà come tuo eguale; e porrà le mani liberamente nelle cose della tua casa:A frend if he continew stedfast, shal be to thee as an equal, and in them of thy houshold shal deale confidently:Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, / et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget. 12If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.Se egli si umilia dinanzi a te, e si ritira dalla tua presenza, avrai un'amicizia buona, e unanime.if he humble himself against thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt haue frendshippe of one accord for good.Si humiliaverit se contra te, / et a facie tua absconderit se, / unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam. 13Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.Allontanati da' tuoi nemici; e sta in guardia riguardo agli amici.Be seperated from thine enemies, & take heede of thy frends.Ab inimicis tuis separare, / et ab amicis tuis attende.

14A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.L'amico fedele è una protezione possente: e chi lo trova, ha trovato un tesoro.A faithful frend, is a strong protection: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.Amicus fidelis protectio fortis: / qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum. 15Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.Nissuna cosa è da paragonarsi all'amico fedele; e non è degna una massa d'oro, e d'argento di esser messa in bilancia colla bontà della fede di lui.To a faythful frend there is no comparison, and there is no poyse of gold and siluer able to counteruaile the goodnes of his fidelitie.Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, / et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius. 16A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.L'amico fedele è balsamo di vita, e di immortalità; e quelli, che temono il Signore lo troveranno.A faythful frend, is the medecine of life & immortalitie: & they that feare our Lord, shal finde him.Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis: / et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum. 17He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.Chi teme Dio avrà parimente una buona amicizia; perché il suo amico sarà simile a lui.He that feareth God, shal likewise haue good frendshipe: because according to him shal his frend be.Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, / quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius. 18My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.Figliuolo dalla tua giovinezza abbraccia gli insegnamenti, e fino alla vecchiezza vi troverai la sapienza.Sonne, from thy youth receiue doctrine, and euen to thy hoare heares thou shalt finde wisdom.Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, / et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam. 19Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:Come quegli, che ara, e semina, accostati tu ad essa, e aspetta i suoi buoni frutti:As he that ploweth, and that soweth, goe to her, and expect her good fruites.Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, / et sustine bonos fructus illius. 20For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.Perocché un pochetto ti affaticherai in coltivandola, ma presto mangerai di quel, che ella produce.For in her worke thou shalt labour a litle, and shalt quickly eate of her generation.In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, / et cito edes de generationibus illius.

21How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.Come aspra oltre modo è la sapienza agli uomini ignoranti! lo stolto non istarà d'accordo con lei.How exceding sharpe is wisdom to the vnlerned men, and the vnwise wil not continew in her.Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus ! / et non permanebit in illa excors. 22She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.Ella sarà per essi come grossa pietra da prova, ed eglino non tarderanno a gettarla per terra.As the vertue of a stone she shal be a probation in them, and they wil not stay to cast her forth.Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis: / et non demorabuntur projicere illam. 23For 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.Perocché la sapienza, che ammaestra, è qual ella si noma, e non è conosciuta da molti; ma con quelli, che la conoscono, ella si sta fino (che li conduca) al cospetto di Dio.For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest to manie, but to whom she is knowen, she contineweth euen to the sight of God.Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, / et non est multis manifestata: / quibus autem cognita est, / permanet usque ad conspectum Dei. 24Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.Figliuolo ascolta, e abbraccia un saggio avvertimento, e non rigettare i miei consiglj.Heare my sonne, and take counsel of vnderstanding, and cast not away my counsel.Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, / et ne abjicias consilium meum. 25Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:Metti i tuoi piedi ne' ceppi di lei, e porgi il tuo collo alle sue catene.Thrust thy foote into her fetters, and thy necke into her cheynes:Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, / et in torques illius collum tuum. 26Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.Piega il tuo dosso, e portala; e non ti rechino noia i suoi legami.put vnder thy shoulder, and carie her, and be not wearie of her bands.Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, / et ne acedieris vinculis ejus. 27Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.Con tutto l'animo tuo accostati a lei; e con tutto il tuo potere segui le vie di lei.With al thy minde goe to her, and with al thy strength keepe her wayes.In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, / et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus. 28Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:Cercala, ed ella si manifesterà a te; e quando la possederai, non abbandonarla:Search her out, and she shal be made manifest to thee, and hauing obteyned her, forsake her not:Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi: / et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam:

29For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.Perocché al fine in lei troverai riposo; ed ella si cangerà in diletto per te.for in the later end, thou shalt finde rest in her, and she shal be turned vnto delectation.in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, / et convertetur tibi in oblectationem. 30Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:E i suoi ceppi saranno la tua forte difesa, e base di valore; e le catene di lei veste di gloria;And her fetters shal be to thee for a protection of strength, and foundation of powre, & her cheynes for a stole of glorie:Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, / et torques illius in stolam gloriæ: 31For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.Perocché in lei si ha lo splendore della vita; e le sue catene sono fascie, che stringendo risanano.For the beautie of life is in her, and her bands are a healthful bynding.decor enim vitæ est in illa, / et vincula illius alligatura salutaris. 32Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.Di lei ti rivestirai come di veste gloriosa, e la metterai sul tuo capo qual corona di giocondità.Thou shalt put on her a stole of glorie, and as a crowne of gratulation thou shalt set her vpon thee.Stolam gloriæ indues eam, / et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi. 33My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.Figliuolo se tu darai retta a me, acquisterai dottrina; e se applicherai la tua mente, sarai sapiente.Sonne, if thou attend to me, thou shalt learne: and if thou wilt applie thy minde, thou shalt be wise.Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces: / et si accomodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris. 34If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.Se porgerai le tue orecchie, acquisterai intelligenza; e se amerai di ascoltare, sarai sapiente.If thou wilt incline thine eare, thou shalt receiue doctrine: and if thou loue to heare, thou shalt be wise.Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam: / et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris. 35Stand 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.Frequenta le adunanze dei seniori prudenti; e unisciti di cuore alla loro saggezza, al fin di poter ascoltare tutto quello, che di Dio si ragiona, e non siano ignote a te le sentenze degne di lode.Stand in the multitude of wise ancients, and be ioyned to their wisdom from thy hart, that thou maist heare al the narration of God, and the prayse may not escape thee.In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, / et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, / ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, / et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.

36And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.Se tu vedi un uomo sensato, va di buon mattino a trovarlo; e il tuo piè consumi i gradini della sua porta.And if thou see a wise man, watch after him, and let thy soote weare the steppes of his doores.Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, / et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus. 37Let 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 to thee.I tuoi pensieri siano fissi ne' precetti di Dio, e medita di continuo i suoi comandamenti; ed egli ti darà un cuore, e la sapienza bramata da te ti sarà con ceduta.Haue thy cogitation in the precepts of God, and in his commandements most of al be dayly conuersant: and he wil geue thee hart, and the desire of wisdom shal be geuen thee.Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, / et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto: / et ipse dabit tibi cor, / et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.