2. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 1.30, 2.1, 4.2, 4.6, 4.17, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6-6.9, 6.14-6.17, 6.26, 7.11, 7.17-7.18, 8.2, 9.2, 10.27, 10.29, 12.11, 13.10, 16.17, 19.3-19.4, 20.22, 21.2, 22.16, 23.6, 23.18, 24.1, 25.2, 25.8, 25.16-25.26, 26.5-26.14, 26.16-26.18, 27.16, 29.15, 31.3, 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, 38.11, 39.1, 39.6-39.8, 40.23, 40.29, 45.23, 47.19-47.20, 50.7 (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. 7.11. Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in soul,for there is One who abases and exalts. 7.17. Humble yourself greatly,for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms. 7.18. Do not exchange a friend for money,or a real brother for the gold of Ophir. 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. 9.2. Do not give yourself to a woman so that she gains mastery over your strength. 10.27. Better is a man who works and has an abundance of everything,than one who goes about boasting, but lacks bread. 10.27. The misery of an hour makes one forget luxury,and at the close of a mans life his deeds will be revealed. 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. 12.11. Even if he humbles himself and goes about cringing,watch yourself, and be on your guard against him;and you will be to him like one who has polished a mirror,and you will know that it was not hopelessly tarnished. 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. 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. 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. 25.8. happy is he who lives with an intelligent wife,and he who has not made a slip with his tongue,and he who has not served a man inferior to himself; 25.16. I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife. 25.17. The wickedness of a wife changes her appearance,and darkens her face like that of a bear. 25.18. Her husband takes his meals among the neighbors,and he cannot help sighing bitterly. 25.19. Any iniquity is insignificant compared to a wifes iniquity;may a sinners lot befall her! 25.21. Do not be ensnared by a womans beauty,and do not desire a woman for her possessions. 25.22. There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband. 25.23. A dejected mind, a gloomy face,and a wounded heart are caused by an evil wife. Drooping hands and weak knees are caused by the wife who does not make her husband happy. 25.24. From a woman sin had its beginning,and because of her we all die. 25.25. Allow no outlet to water,and no boldness of speech in an evil wife. 25.26. If she does not go as you direct,separate her from yourself. 26.5. of three things my heart is afraid,and of a fourth I am frightened:The slander of a city, the gathering of a mob,and false accusation -- all these are worse than death. 26.6. There is grief of heart and sorrow when a wife is envious of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all. 26.7. An evil wife is an ox yoke which chafes;taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion. 26.8. There is great anger when a wife is drunken;she will not hide her shame. 26.9. A wifes harlotry shows in her lustful eyes,and she is known by her eyelids. 26.11. Be on guard against her impudent eye,and do not wonder if she sins against you. 26.12. As a thirsty wayfarer opens his mouth and drinks from any water near him,so will she sit in front of every post and open her quiver to the arrow. 26.13. A wifes charm delights her husband,and her skill puts fat on his bones. 26.14. A silent wife is a gift of the Lord,and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul. 26.16. Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord,so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home. 26.17. Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand,so is a beautiful face on a stately figure. 26.18. Like pillars of gold on a base of silver,so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart. 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. 31.3. The rich man toils as his wealth accumulates,and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties. 31.3. Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his injury,reducing his strength and adding wounds. 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. 38.11. offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of fine flour,and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford. 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; 39.6. If the great Lord is willing,he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;he will pour forth words of wisdom and give thanks to the Lord in prayer. 39.7. He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright,and meditate on his secrets. 39.8. He will reveal instruction in his teaching,and will glory in the law of the Lords covet. 40.23. A friend or a companion never meets one amiss,but a wife with her husband is better than both. 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. 47.19. But you laid your loins beside women,and through your body you were brought into subjection. 50.7. like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High,and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds; |
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4. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 2.252-2.253, 8.191-8.194 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.252. Tharbis was the daughter of the king of the Ethiopians: she happened to see Moses as he led the army near the walls, and fought with great courage; and admiring the subtilty of his undertakings, and believing him to be the author of the Egyptians’ success, when they had before despaired of recovering their liberty, and to be the occasion of the great danger the Ethiopians were in, when they had before boasted of their great achievements, she fell deeply in love with him; and upon the prevalancy of that passion, sent to him the most faithful of all her servants to discourse with him about their marriage. 2.253. He thereupon accepted the offer, on condition she would procure the delivering up of the city; and gave her the assurance of an oath to take her to his wife; and that when he had once taken possession of the city, he would not break his oath to her. No sooner was the agreement made, but it took effect immediately; and when Moses had cut off the Ethiopians, he gave thanks to God, and consummated his marriage, and led the Egyptians back to their own land. 8.191. He grew mad in his love of women, and laid no restraint on himself in his lusts; nor was he satisfied with the women of his country alone, but he married many wives out of foreign nations; Sidontans, and Tyrians, and Ammonites, and Edomites; and he transgressed the laws of Moses, which forbade Jews to marry any but those that were of their own people. 8.192. He also began to worship their gods, which he did in order to the gratification of his wives, and out of his affection for them. This very thing our legislator suspected, and so admonished us beforehand, that we should not marry women of other countries, lest we should be entangled with foreign customs, and apostatize from our own; lest we should leave off to honor our own God, and should worship their gods. 8.193. But Solomon was Gllen headlong into unreasonable pleasures, and regarded not those admonitions; for when he had married seven hundred wives, the daughters of princes and of eminent persons, and three hundred concubines, and those besides the king of Egypt’s daughter, he soon was governed by them, till he came to imitate their practices. He was forced to give them this demonstration of his kindness and affection to them, to live according to the laws of their countries. 8.194. And as he grew into years, and his reason became weaker by length of time, it was not sufficient to recall to his mind the institutions of his own country; so he still more and more condemned his own God, and continued to regard the gods that his marriages had introduced; |
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