Caution in taking advice.  Sir.37.7-15

⁷Every counselor praises counsel,
but some give counsel in their own interest.
⁸Be wary of a counselor, and learn first what is his interest -
for he will take thought for himself -
lest he cast the lot against you
⁹and tell you, "Your way is good,"
and then stand aloof to see what will happen to you.
¹⁰Do not consult the one who looks at you suspiciously;
hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.
¹¹Do not consult with a woman about her rival
or with a coward about war,
with a merchant about barter
or with a buyer about selling,
with a grudging man about gratitude
or with a merciless man about kindness,
with an idler about any work
or with a man hired for a year
about completing his work,
with a lazy servant about a big task -
pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.
¹²But 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.
¹³And establish the counsel of your own heart,
for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
¹⁴For a man's soul sometimes keeps him better informed
than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower.
¹⁵And besides all this pray to the Most High
that he may direct your way in truth.

Wisdom & confidence.  Sir.37.16-26

¹⁶Reason is the beginning of every work,
and counsel precedes every undertaking.
¹⁷As a clue to changes of heart
¹⁸four turns of fortune appear, good and evil, life and death;
and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
¹⁹A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many,
and yet be unprofitable to himself.
²⁰A man skilled in words may be hated;
he will be destitute of all food,
²¹for grace was not given him by the Lord,
since he is lacking in all wisdom.
²²A man may be wise to his own advantage,
and the fruits of his understanding may be trustworthy on his lips.
²³A wise man will instruct his own people,
and the fruits of his understanding will be trustworthy.
²⁴A wise man will have praise heaped upon him,
and all who see him will call him happy.
²⁵The life of a man is numbered by days,
but the days of Israel are without number.
²⁶He who is wise among his people will inherit confidence,
and his name will live for ever.

Gluttony.  Sir.37.27-31

²⁷My son, test your soul while you live;
see what is bad for it and do not give it that.
²⁸For not everything is good for every one,
and not every person enjoys everything.
²⁹Do not have an insatiable appetite for any luxury,
and do not give yourself up to food;
³⁰for overeating brings sickness,
and gluttony leads to nausea.
³¹Many have died of gluttony,
but he who is careful to avoid it prolongs his life.