Context No. 3102 of 4322 · Sirach

Sirach 37:1-16: in context

1Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name. 2Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy? 3O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit? 4There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him. 5There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler. 6Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches. 7Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest. 8Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you, 9and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you. 10Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. 11Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel. 12But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail. 13Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it. 14For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower. 15Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth. 16Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action.

Ben Sira weighs friends and counselors with a clear eye. Every friend claims to be a friend, he says, but some are friends in name only, turning enemy in the day of trouble. And beware the counselor who advises in his own interest; do not seek advice from those who are jealous of you or have a stake in your failure.

Two threads run through the passage. Real discernment about advice: many will offer counsel, but consider what interest lies behind it, for some give counsel in their own interest. Seek instead a godly friend who keeps the commandments, whose heart is as your own, and who will grieve with you if you fail. And above all human counsel, he says, ask God himself to direct your way in truth. The wisest course weighs good human advice, but submits all of it to God, who alone can direct our steps rightly.

When I seek counsel, do I weigh whose interest lies behind it, seek out the godly, and above all ask God himself to direct my way?

Sources

Sirach 37:15: "Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth."
Proverbs 11:14: "Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory."
James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally... and it will be given to him."