Ben Sira 37:12-22

12 But stay constantly with a godly man whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, whose soul is in accord with your soul, and who will sorrow with you if you fail.
13 And establish the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
14 For a man's soul sometimes keeps him better informed than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower.
15 And besides all this pray to the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.
16 Reason is the beginning of every work, and counsel precedes every undertaking.
17 As a clue to changes of heart
18 four turns of fortune appear, good and evil, life and death; and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
19 A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many, and yet be unprofitable to himself.
20 A man skilled in words may be hated; he will be destitute of all food,
21 for grace was not given him by the Lord, since he is lacking in all wisdom.
22 A man may be wise to his own advantage, and the fruits of his understanding may be trustworthy on his lips.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.