Ecclesiasticus 37

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.

Every friend says, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name — an allied thought that professes loyalty and holds none.

2Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?

Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy — an allied faculty turned adversarial within the consciousness?

3O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?

O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth — the outer life — with deceit?

4There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.

There is a companion, which rejoices in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.

5There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.

There is a companion, which helps his friend for the belly — for the nourishment he gets by it — and takes up the buckler, the small shield of defence, against the enemy.

6Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.

Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches — in the state's hour of increase.

7Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.

Every counsellor extols counsel; but there is some that counsels for himself — counsel given from the counsellor's own ruling thought.

8Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,

Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he has; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,

9And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.

And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.

10Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.

Consult not with one that suspects thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.

11Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.

Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous — the affection-faculty on its own rivalry; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with a hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel — no faculty is to be asked outside the office it truly holds.

12But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.

But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the indwelling LORD, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.

13And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.

And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it — the heart's own discernment, schooled by the order.

14For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.

For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen — the watching faculties — that sit above in a high tower, the intellect raised to watch.

15And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.

And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.

16Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.

Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.

17The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.

The countenance — the surface of awareness — is a sign of the changing of the heart.

18Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.

Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue rules over them continually — speech, the faculty's utterance, governing which of them the state lives by.

19There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

There is one that is wise and teaches many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

20There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.

There is one that shows wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food — of all spiritual nourishment.

21For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

For grace — the unmerited inflow of divine life — is not given him from the indwelling LORD, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

22Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.

Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding — what his state actually produces — are commendable in his mouth.

23A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.

A wise man instructs his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.

24A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

A wise man shall be filled with blessing — divine increase by spiritual law; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

25The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel — the spiritual man in whom God prevails — are innumerable.

26A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

27My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.

My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.

28For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.

For all things are not profitable for all men, neither has every soul pleasure in every thing.

29Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:

Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats — upon any single nourishment of sense.

30For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.

For excess of meats brings sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler — the disordered humour of a state fed beyond its order.

31By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.

By surfeiting have many perished; but he that takes heed prolongs his life.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.