Context No. 3856 of 4322 · Sirach

Sirach 9:1-18: in context

1Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. 2Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. 3Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. 4Don’t associate with a woman who is a singer, lest perhaps you be caught by her tricks. 5Don’t gaze at a virgin, lest perhaps you stumble and incur penalties for her. 6Don’t give your soul to prostitutes, that you not lose your inheritance. 7Don’t look around in the streets of the city. Don’t wander in its deserted places. 8Turn your eye away from a beautiful woman, and don’t gaze at another’s beauty. Many have been led astray by the beauty of a woman; and with this, passion is kindled like a fire. 9Don’t dine at all with a woman who has a husband, or revel with her at wine, lest perhaps your soul turn away to her, and with your spirit you slide into destruction. 10Don’t forsake an old friend; for a new one is not comparable to him. A new friend is like new wine: if it becomes old, you will drink it with gladness. 11Don’t envy the success of a sinner; for you don’t know what his end will be. 12Don’t delight in the delights of the ungodly. Remember they will not go unpunished to the grave. 13Keep yourself far from the man who has power to kill, and you will not be troubled by the fear of death. If you come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away your life. Know surely that you go about in the midst of snares, and walk upon the battlements of a city. 14As well as you can, aim to know your neighbors, and take counsel with the wise. 15Let your conversation be with men of understanding. Let all your discourse be in the law of the Most High. 16Let righteous people be companions at your table. Let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord. 17A work is commended because of the skill of the artisan; so he who rules the people will be considered wise for his speech. 18A loudmouthed man is dangerous in his city. He who is reckless in his speech will be hated.

This chapter of Sirach is full of practical wisdom, and among its counsels one theme stands out: the company we keep shapes who we become. Do not forsake an old friend, it advises, for a new one is not his equal; let your conversation be with those who have understanding; let the righteous be your table companions, and let your boasting be in the fear of the Lord.

The wise are to seek out the wise and the righteous, and to take their counsel. Woven in is a related warning: do not envy the success of a sinner, for you do not know how his end will be; do not delight in what delights the ungodly. The company and the examples we admire will draw us in their direction. There is enduring wisdom here. Who we choose to spend time with, whose conversation we seek, whose lives we admire and envy, quietly forms our own character. To keep company with the wise and righteous, and to prize old and faithful friends, is to be shaped toward good; to envy and imitate the ungodly is to be drawn the other way. We become like those we keep close.

Am I choosing to keep company with the wise and righteous, valuing faithful friends, rather than admiring and envying the ungodly, mindful that the company I keep is quietly shaping who I become?

Sources

Sirach 9:10: "Don't forsake an old friend; for a new one is not comparable to him."
Sirach 9:16: "Let righteous people be companions at your table. Let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord."
Sirach 9:11: "Don't envy the success of a sinner; for you don't know what his end will be."