1. Hebrew Bible, Proverbs, 1.5, 10.19, 14.12, 16.21, 18.15 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.5. יִשְׁמַע חָכָם וְיוֹסֶף לֶקַח וְנָבוֹן תַּחְבֻּלוֹת יִקְנֶה׃ 10.19. בְּרֹב דְּבָרִים לֹא יֶחְדַּל־פָּשַׁע וְחֹשֵׂךְ שְׂפָתָיו מַשְׂכִּיל׃ 14.12. יֵשׁ דֶּרֶךְ יָשָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִישׁ וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ דַּרְכֵי־מָוֶת׃ 16.21. לַחֲכַם־לֵב יִקָּרֵא נָבוֹן וּמֶתֶק שְׂפָתַיִם יֹסִיף לֶקַח׃ 18.15. לֵב נָבוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּעַת וְאֹזֶן חֲכָמִים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּעַת׃ | 1.5. That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, And the man of understanding may attain unto wise counsels;" 10.19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips is wise." 14.12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death." 16.21. The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning." 18.15. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Ecclesiastes, 9.10-9.11 (5th cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 9.11. שַׁבְתִּי וְרָאֹה תַחַת־הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כִּי לֹא לַקַּלִּים הַמֵּרוֹץ וְלֹא לַגִּבּוֹרִים הַמִּלְחָמָה וְגַם לֹא לַחֲכָמִים לֶחֶם וְגַם לֹא לַנְּבֹנִים עֹשֶׁר וְגַם לֹא לַיֹּדְעִים חֵן כִּי־עֵת וָפֶגַע יִקְרֶה אֶת־כֻּלָּם׃ | 9.10. Whatsoever thy hand attaineth to do by thy strength, that do; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." 9.11. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." |
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3. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 3.29, 4.11, 4.20-4.21, 6.7-6.9, 6.37, 7.14, 7.25, 9.10-9.16, 13.17-13.19, 13.21-13.23, 14.20, 20.22, 20.26, 22.4, 22.22, 27.6, 27.17, 31.19, 33.3, 36.24, 37.4, 41.5-41.7, 42.3, 42.9-42.14, 42.21 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 3.29. The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable,and an attentive ear is the wise mans desire. 4.11. Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her. 4.21. For there is a shame which brings sin,and there is a shame which is glory and favor. 7.14. Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders,nor repeat yourself in your prayer. 7.25. Give a daughter in marriage; you will have finished a great task. But give her to a man of understanding. 9.11. Do not envy the honors of a sinner,for you do not know what his end will be. 9.12. Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly;remember that they will not be held guiltless as long as they live. 9.13. Keep far from a man who has the power to kill,and you will not be worried by the fear of death. But if you approach him, make no misstep,lest he rob you of your life. Know that you are walking in the midst of snares,and that you are going about on the city battlements. 9.14. As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors,and consult with the wise. 9.15. Let your conversation be with men of understanding,and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High. 9.16. Let righteous men be your dinner companions,and let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord. 13.17. What fellowship has a wolf with a lamb?No more has a sinner with a godly man. 13.18. What peace is there between a hyena and a dog?And what peace between a rich man and a poor man? 13.19. Wild asses in the wilderness are the prey of lions;likewise the poor are pastures for the rich. 13.21. When a rich man totters, he is steadied by friends,but when a humble man falls, he is even pushed away by friends. 13.22. If a rich man slips, his helpers are many;he speaks unseemly words, and they justify him. If a humble man slips, they even reproach him;he speaks sensibly, and receives no attention. 13.23. When the rich man speaks all are silent,and they extol to the clouds what he says. When the poor man speaks they say, "Who is this fellow?" And should he stumble, they even push him down. 20.22. A man may lose his life through shame,or lose it because of his foolish look. 20.26. The disposition of a liar brings disgrace,and his shame is ever with him. 22.4. A sensible daughter obtains her husband,but one who acts shamefully brings grief to her father. 22.4. O Lord, Father and God of my life,do not give me haughty eyes 22.22. If you have opened your mouth against your friend,do not worry, for reconciliation is possible;but as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow -- in these cases any friend will flee. 22.22. So it is with a woman who leaves her husband and provides an heir by a stranger. 27.6. The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree;so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a mans mind. 27.17. Love your friend and keep faith with him;but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him. 31.19. How ample a little is for a well-disciplined man!He does not breathe heavily upon his bed. 33.3. A man of understanding will trust in the law;for him the law is as dependable as an inquiry by means of Urim. 33.3. If you have a servant, let him be as yourself,because you have bought him with blood. 36.24. He who acquires a wife gets his best possession,a helper fit for him and a pillar of support. 37.4. Some companions rejoice in the happiness of a friend,but in time of trouble are against him. 41.5. The children of sinners are abominable children,and they frequent the haunts of the ungodly. 41.6. The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish,and on their posterity will be a perpetual reproach. 41.7. Children will blame an ungodly father,for they suffer reproach because of him. 42.3. of keeping accounts with a partner or with traveling companions,and of dividing the inheritance of friends; 42.3. At noon it parches the land;and who can withstand its burning heat? 42.3. When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can;for he will surpass even that. When you exalt him, put forth all your strength,and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough. 42.9. A daughter keeps her father secretly wakeful,and worry over her robs him of sleep;when she is young, lest she do not marry,or if married, lest she be hated; 42.9. The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven,a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord. 42.11. Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies,a byword in the city and notorious among the people,and put you to shame before the great multitude. 42.11. Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it,exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. 42.12. Do not look upon any one for beauty,and do not sit in the midst of women; 42.12. It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc;the hands of the Most High have stretched it out. 42.13. for from garments comes the moth,and from a woman comes womans wickedness. 42.13. By his command he sends the driving snow and speeds the lightnings of his judgment. 42.14. Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good;and it is a woman who brings shame and disgrace. 42.14. Therefore the storehouses are opened,and the clouds fly forth like birds. 42.21. He has ordained the splendors of his wisdom,and he is from everlasting and to everlasting. Nothing can be added or taken away,and he needs no one to be his counselor. 42.21. He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,and withers the tender grass like fire. |
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4. Philo of Alexandria, On The Contemplative Life, 80 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 80. and then some one rising up sings a hymn which has been made in honour of God, either such as he has composed himself, or some ancient one of some old poet, for they have left behind them many poems and songs in trimetre iambics, and in psalms of thanksgiving and in hymns, and songs at the time of libation, and at the altar, and in regular order, and in choruses, admirably measured out in various and well diversified strophes. And after him then others also arise in their ranks, in becoming order, while every one else listens in decent silence, except when it is proper for them to take up the burden of the song, and to join in at the end; for then they all, both men and women, join in the hymn. |
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5. Mishnah, Avot, 1.17 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 1.17. Shimon, his son, used to say: all my days I grew up among the sages, and I have found nothing better for a person than silence. Study is not the most important thing, but actions; whoever indulges in too many words brings about sin." |
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6. Plutarch, On The Education of Children, 6c (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
| 6c. for if, in providing pleasure for others, they disregard what is honourable, they would be slow to place that which is upright and sound above the gratification of their own pleasures and luxurious tastes, and slow to pursue the temperate course instead of the agreeable. Moreover, why should children [be taught such a way of speaking]? For it is a good thing not to say or do anything at random, and according to the proverb, "Good things are hard." Speeches made offhand display a large measure of readiness and facility, being characteristic of persons who know not what should be the beginning or where the end. But, apart from all other errors, those who speak on the impulse of the moment fall into a dreadful disregard of limit and into loquacity. Reflexion on the other hand prevents a discourse from exceeding the due limits of proportion. |
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7. Clement of Alexandria, Christ The Educator, 2.6.52.4 (2nd cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
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8. Iamblichus, Life of Pythagoras, 72 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE)
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