Daily Reading for Friday, February 28th, 2025

Reading 1, Sirach 6:5-17

⁵ A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.

⁶ Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand.

⁷ If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him;

⁸ for one kind of friend is so only when it suits him but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.

⁹ Another kind of friend will fall out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,

¹⁰ and a third kind of friend will share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:

¹¹ when you are doing well he will be your second self, ordering your servants about;

¹² but, if disaster befalls you, he will recoil from you and keep out of your way.

¹³ Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.

¹⁴ A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.

¹⁵ A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.

¹⁶ A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.

¹⁷ Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35

¹² Blessed are you, Yahweh, teach me your will!

¹⁶ I find my delight in your will, I do not forget your words.

¹⁸ Open my eyes and I shall fix my gaze on the wonders of your Law.

²⁷ Show me the way of your precepts, that I may reflect on your wonders.

³⁴ Give me understanding and I will observe your Law, and keep it wholeheartedly.

³⁵ Guide me in the way of your commandments, for my delight is there.