9. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 1.30, 2.1, 4.2, 4.6, 4.17-4.18, 6.2, 6.4, 6.7, 6.9, 6.17-6.37, 7.3, 7.7-7.8, 7.10-7.11, 7.14-7.17, 7.24, 7.27, 7.29-7.32, 8.1-8.2, 8.5, 8.9, 8.13, 8.18-8.19, 9.1-9.16, 10.12-10.19, 10.29, 11.7-11.10, 11.12, 11.14, 11.17-11.22, 11.24-11.27, 12.1, 12.3-12.5, 12.10, 12.12, 12.14, 12.16, 13.1-13.4, 13.6-13.7, 13.9-13.13, 13.15-13.24, 14.3, 14.5, 14.8-14.11, 14.16-14.17, 15.7, 16.1-16.4, 16.17, 19.3-19.4, 19.9, 20.22, 21.2, 22.16, 22.19, 22.22-22.23, 23.6, 23.18, 24.1, 25.2, 26.14-26.15, 27.16, 29.15, 31.6, 31.19-31.20, 31.28-31.29, 33.31, 34.6, 34.15, 37.8-37.9, 37.12, 37.19, 37.26-37.28, 39.1, 40.29, 45.23 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 2.1. My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord,prepare yourself for temptation. 2.1. Consider the ancient generations and see:who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken?Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked? 4.2. Do not grieve the one who is hungry,nor anger a man in want. 4.2. Observe the right time, and beware of evil;and do not bring shame on yourself. 4.6. for if in bitterness of soul he calls down a curse upon you,his Creator will hear his prayer. 4.17. For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths,she will bring fear and cowardice upon him,and will torment him by her discipline until she trusts him,and she will test him with her ordices. 4.18. Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him,and will reveal her secrets to him. 7.3. My son, do not sow the furrows of injustice,and you will not reap a sevenfold crop. 7.3. With all your might love your Maker,and do not forsake his ministers. 7.7. Do not offend against the public,and do not disgrace yourself among the people. 7.8. Do not commit a sin twice;even for one you will not go unpunished. 7.11. Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in soul,for there is One who abases and exalts. 7.14. Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders,nor repeat yourself in your prayer. 7.15. Do not hate toilsome labor,or farm work, which were created by the Most High. 7.16. Do not count yourself among the crowd of sinners;remember that wrath does not delay. 7.17. Humble yourself greatly,for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms. 7.24. Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,and do not show yourself too indulgent with them. 7.27. With all your heart honor your father,and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. 7.29. With all your soul fear the Lord,and honor his priests. 7.31. Fear the Lord and honor the priest,and give him his portion, as is commanded you:the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders,the sacrifice of sanctification,and the first fruits of the holy things. 7.32. Stretch forth your hand to the poor,so that your blessing may be complete. 8.1. Do not contend with a powerful man,lest you fall into his hands. 8.1. Do not kindle the coals of a sinner,lest you be burned in his flaming fire. 8.2. Do not quarrel with a rich man,lest his resources outweigh yours;for gold has ruined many,and has perverted the minds of kings. 8.5. Do not reproach a man who is turning away from sin;remember that we all deserve punishment. 8.9. Do not disregard the discourse of the aged,for they themselves learned from their fathers;because from them you will gain understanding and learn how to give an answer in time of need. 8.13. Do not give surety beyond your means,but if you give surety, be concerned as one who must pay. 8.18. In the presence of a stranger do nothing that is to be kept secret,for you do not know what he will divulge. 8.19. Do not reveal your thoughts to every one,lest you drive away your good luck. 9.1. Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom,and do not teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt. 9.1. Forsake not an old friend,for a new one does not compare with him. A new friend is like new wine;when it has aged you will drink it with pleasure. 9.2. Do not give yourself to a woman so that she gains mastery over your strength. 9.3. Do not go to meet a loose woman,lest you fall into her snares. 9.4. Do not associate with a woman singer,lest you be caught in her intrigues. 9.5. Do not look intently at a virgin,lest you stumble and incur penalties for her. 9.6. Do not give yourself to harlots lest you lose your inheritance. 9.7. Do not look around in the streets of a city,nor wander about in its deserted sections. 9.8. Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman,and do not look intently at beauty belonging to another;many have been misled by a womans beauty,and by it passion is kindled like a fire. 9.9. Never dine with another mans wife,nor revel with her at wine;lest your heart turn aside to her,and in blood you be plunged into destruction. 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. 10.12. The beginning of mans pride is to depart from the Lord;his heart has forsaken his Maker. 10.12. There is another who is slow and needs help,who lacks strength and abounds in poverty;but the eyes of the Lord look upon him for his good;he lifts him out of his low estate 10.13. For the beginning of pride is sin,and the man who clings to it pours out abominations. Therefore the Lord brought upon them extraordinary afflictions,and destroyed them utterly. 10.13. and raises up his head,so that many are amazed at him. 10.14. The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers,and has seated the lowly in their place. 10.14. Good things and bad, life and death,poverty and wealth, come from the Lord. 10.15. The Lord has plucked up the roots of the nations,and has planted the humble in their place. 10.16. The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations,and has destroyed them to the foundations of the earth. 10.17. He has removed some of them and destroyed them,and has extinguished the memory of them from the earth. 10.17. The gift of the Lord endures for those who are godly,and what he approves will have lasting success. 10.18. Pride was not created for men,nor fierce anger for those born of women. 10.18. There is a man who is rich through his diligence and self-denial,and this is the reward allotted to him: 10.19. What race is worthy of honor? The human race. What race is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord. What race is unworthy of honor? The human race. What race is unworthy of honor? Those who transgress the commandments. 10.19. when he says, "I have found rest,and now I shall enjoy my goods!" he does not know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies. 10.29. Who will justify the man that sins against himself?And who will honor the man that dishonors his own life? 10.29. Do not bring every man into your home,for many are the wiles of the crafty. 12.1. If you do a kindness, know to whom you do it,and you will be thanked for your good deeds. 12.1. Never trust your enemy,for like the rusting of copper, so is his wickedness. 12.3. No good will come to the man who persists in evil or to him who does not give alms. 12.4. Give to the godly man, but do not help the sinner. 12.5. Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly;hold back his bread, and do not give it to him,lest by means of it he subdue you;for you will receive twice as much evil for all the good which you do to him. 12.12. Do not put him next to you,lest he overthrow you and take your place;do not have him sit at your right,lest he try to take your seat of honor,and at last you will realize the truth of my words,and be stung by what I have said. 12.14. So no one will pity a man who associates with a sinner and becomes involved in his sins. 12.16. An enemy will speak sweetly with his lips,but in his mind he will plan to throw you into a pit;an enemy will weep with his eyes,but if he finds an opportunity his thirst for blood will be insatiable. 13.1. Whoever touches pitch will be defiled,and whoever associates with a proud man will become like him. 13.1. Do not push forward, lest you be repulsed;and do not remain at a distance, lest you be forgotten. 13.2. Do not lift a weight beyond your strength,nor associate with a man mightier and richer than you. How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle?The pot will strike against it, and will itself be broken. 13.2. Humility is an abomination to a proud man;likewise a poor man is an abomination to a rich one. 13.3. A rich man does wrong, and he even adds reproaches;a poor man suffers wrong, and he must add apologies. 13.4. A rich man will exploit you if you can be of use to him,but if you are in need he will forsake you. 13.6. When he needs you he will deceive you,he will smile at you and give you hope. He will speak to you kindly and say, "What do you need? 13.7. He will shame you with his foods,until he has drained you two or three times;and finally he will deride you. Should he see you afterwards, he will forsake you,and shake his head at you. 13.9. When a powerful man invites you, be reserved;and he will invite you the more often. 13.11. Do not try to treat him as an equal,nor trust his abundance of words;for he will test you through much talk,and while he smiles he will be examining you. 13.12. Cruel is he who does not keep words to himself;he will not hesitate to injure or to imprison. 13.13. Keep words to yourself and be very watchful,for you are walking about with your own downfall. 13.15. Every creature loves its like,and every person his neighbor; 13.16. all living beings associate by species,and a man clings to one like himself. 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. 13.24. Riches are good if they are free from sin,and poverty is evil in the opinion of the ungodly. 14.3. Riches are not seemly for a stingy man;and of what use is property to an envious man? 14.5. If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous?He will not enjoy his own riches. 14.8. Evil is the man with a grudging eye;he averts his face and disregards people. 14.9. A greedy mans eye is not satisfied with a portion,and mean injustice withers the soul. 14.11. My son, treat yourself well, according to your means,and present worthy offerings to the Lord. 14.16. Give, and take, and beguile yourself,because in Hades one cannot look for luxury. 14.17. All living beings become old like a garment,for the decree from of old is, "You must surely die! 15.7. Foolish men will not obtain her,and sinful men will not see her. 16.1. Do not desire a multitude of useless children,nor rejoice in ungodly sons. 16.1. nor for the six hundred thousand men on foot,who rebelliously assembled in their stubbornness. 16.2. If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,unless the fear of the Lord is in them. 16.2. And no mind will reflect on this. Who will ponder his ways? 16.3. Do not trust in their survival,and do not rely on their multitude;for one is better than a thousand,and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children. 16.3. with all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,and to it they return. 16.4. For through one man of understanding a city will be filled with people,but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate. 16.17. Do not say, "I shall be hidden from the Lord,and who from on high will remember me?Among so many people I shall not be known,for what is my soul in the boundless creation? 19.3. Decay and worms will inherit him,and the reckless soul will be snatched away. 19.3. A mans attire and open-mouthed laughter,and a mans manner of walking, show what he is. 19.4. One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded,and one who sins does wrong to himself. 19.9. for some one has heard you and watched you,and when the time comes he will hate you. 20.22. A man may lose his life through shame,or lose it because of his foolish look. 21.2. Flee from sin as from a snake;for if you approach sin, it will bite you. Its teeth are lions teeth,and destroy the souls of men. 21.2. A fool raises his voice when he laughs,but a clever man smiles quietly. 22.16. A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building will not be torn loose by an earthquake;so the mind firmly fixed on a reasonable counsel will not be afraid in a crisis. 22.16. Two sorts of men multiply sins,and a third incurs wrath. The soul heated like a burning fire will not be quenched until it is consumed;a man who commits fornication with his near of kin will never cease until the fire burns him up. 22.19. A man who pricks an eye will make tears fall,and one who pricks the heart makes it show feeling. 22.19. His fear is confined to the eyes of men,and he does not realize that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun;they look upon all the ways of men,and perceive even the hidden places. 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. 22.23. Gain the trust of your neighbor in his poverty,that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity;stand by him in time of affliction,that you may share with him in his inheritance. 22.23. For first of all, she has disobeyed the law of the Most High;second, she has committed an offense against her husband;and third, she has committed adultery through harlotry and brought forth children by another man. 24.1. Wisdom will praise herself,and will glory in the midst of her people. 24.1. In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him,and so I was established in Zion. 25.2. My soul hates three kinds of men,and I am greatly offended at their life:a beggar who is proud, a rich man who is a liar,and an adulterous old man who lacks good sense. 26.14. A silent wife is a gift of the Lord,and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul. 26.15. A modest wife adds charm to charm,and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul. 27.16. Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence,and he will never find a congenial friend. 29.15. Do not forget all the kindness of your surety,for he has given his life for you. 31.6. Many have come to ruin because of gold,and their destruction has met them face to face. 31.19. How ample a little is for a well-disciplined man!He does not breathe heavily upon his bed. 31.28. Wine drunk in season and temperately is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul. 31.29. Wine drunk to excess is bitterness of soul,with provocation and stumbling. 33.31. If you have a servant, treat him as a brother,for as your own soul you will need him. 34.6. Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation,do not give your mind to them. 34.15. Blessed is the soul of the man who fears the Lord!To whom does he look? And who is his support? 37.8. Be 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 37.9. and tell you, "Your way is good," and then stand aloof to see what will happen to you. 37.12. 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. 37.19. A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many,and yet be unprofitable to himself. 37.26. He who is wise among his people will inherit confidence,and his name will live for ever. 37.27. My son, test your soul while you live;see what is bad for it and do not give it that. 37.28. For not everything is good for every one,and not every person enjoys everything. 39.1. On the other hand he who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients,and will be concerned with prophecies; 39.1. Nations will declare his wisdom,and the congregation will proclaim his praise; 40.29. When a man looks to the table of another,his existence cannot be considered as life. He pollutes himself with another mans food,but a man who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that. 45.23. Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory,for he was zealous in the fear of the Lord,and stood fast, when the people turned away,in the ready goodness of his soul,and made atonement for Israel. |
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