The verse "And in your prosperity he will be as yourself, And will be bold over your servants" from Sirach 6:11 describes a fair-weather friend. Let's break it down:
"And in your prosperity he will be as yourself": This means when you are doing well, successful, and wealthy, this friend will act like your equal. They'll be around, enjoying the good times, and acting as if they are just as important and prosperous as you are. They might even try to take credit for your success or bask in the reflected glory.
"And will be bold over your servants": This is where the true nature of this "friend" is revealed. The word "bold" here is used to describe a person who is overconfident and maybe disrespectful. They will use their association with you to try to exert authority or control over your employees, servants, or subordinates. They might give orders, make demands, or generally act as if they are in charge, even though they have no real authority.
In essence, the verse warns against friends who are only around for the good times and who might abuse their position to take advantage of you or those around you. This person is not a true friend because their friendship is conditional on your success and is coupled with arrogance toward those they consider beneath them.
Sirach 6 is a chapter about choosing the right friends. This verse serves as a caution, advising the reader to be wary of those who seem overly eager to associate with them during prosperous times and who may display a sense of entitlement over their household staff. True friendship is about loyalty and respect, not opportunistic behavior and arrogance.
The verse "And in your prosperity he will be as yourself, And will be bold over your servants" from Sirach 6:11 describes a fair-weather friend. Let's break it down:
"And in your prosperity he will be as yourself": This means when you are doing well, successful, and wealthy, this friend will act like your equal. They'll be around, enjoying the good times, and acting as if they are just as important and prosperous as you are. They might even try to take credit for your success or bask in the reflected glory.
"And will be bold over your servants": This is where the true nature of this "friend" is revealed. The word "bold" here is used to describe a person who is overconfident and maybe disrespectful. They will use their association with you to try to exert authority or control over your employees, servants, or subordinates. They might give orders, make demands, or generally act as if they are in charge, even though they have no real authority.
In essence, the verse warns against friends who are only around for the good times and who might abuse their position to take advantage of you or those around you. This person is not a true friend because their friendship is conditional on your success and is coupled with arrogance toward those they consider beneath them.
Sirach 6 is a chapter about choosing the right friends. This verse serves as a caution, advising the reader to be wary of those who seem overly eager to associate with them during prosperous times and who may display a sense of entitlement over their household staff. True friendship is about loyalty and respect, not opportunistic behavior and arrogance.