May my soul
not enter their council nor my heart join their company, for in their rage they
have killed men and hamstrung oxen at their whim.
How blessed is anyone who
rejects the advice of the wicked and does not take a stand in the path that
sinners tread, nor a seat in company with cynics
No sitting with wastrels
for me, no travelling with hypocrites;
5
I hate the company of sinners, I refuse to sit down with the wicked.
How blessed are those who
put their trust in Yahweh, who have not sided with rebels and those who have
gone astray in falsehood.
My child, if sinners try
to seduce you, do not go with them.
When wisdom comes into your heart and
knowledge fills your soul with delight, 11 then prudence
will be there to watch over you, and understanding will be your guardian 12
to keep you from the way that is evil, from those whose speech is deceitful, 13
from those who leave the paths of honesty to walk the roads of darkness: 14
those who find their joy in doing wrong, and their delight in deceitfulness, 15
whose tracks are twisted, and the paths that they tread crooked. 16
To keep you, too, from the woman who belongs to another, from the stranger,
with her wheedling words;
tread the way of good people, persisting in the paths of the upright.
Do not envy the man of violence, never model your conduct on his
While I was at the window of my house, I
was looking out through the lattice 7 and I saw,
among the callow youths, I noticed among the lads, one boy who had no sense. 8
Going along the lane, near the corner where she lives, he reaches the path to
her house, 9 at twilight when day is declining, at
dead of night and in the dark. 10 And look, a
woman is coming to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, false of heart. 11
She is loud and brazen; her feet cannot rest at home. 12
Once in the street, once in the square, she lurks at every corner.13
She catches hold of him, she kisses him, the bold-faced creature says to him, 14
'I had to offer a communion sacrifice, I have discharged my vows today; 15
that is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and now I have found you. 16
I have spread coverlets over my divan, embroidered stuff, Egyptian material, 17
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, with aloes and cinnamon.18
Come on, we'll make love as much as we like, till morning. Let us enjoy the
delights of love! 19 For my husband is not at home, he has
gone on a very long journey, 20 taking his
moneybags with him; he will not be back till the moon is full.' 21
With her persistent coaxing she overcomes him, lures him on with her wheedling
patter. 22 Forthwith he follows her, like an ox on
its way to the slaughterhouse, like a madman on his way to the stocks, 23
until an arrow pierces him to the liver, like the bird that dashes into the net
without realizing that its life is at stake. 24
And now, son, listen to me, pay attention to the words I have to say: 25
do not let your heart stray into her ways, or wander into her paths; 26
she has done so many to death, and the strongest have all been her victims. 27
Her house is the way to Sheol, the descent to the courts of death.
Whoever walks with the
wise becomes wise, whoever mixes with fools will be ruined.
Keep well clear of the
fool
Do not make friends with
one who gives way to anger, make no one quick-tempered a companion of yours, 25 for fear you learn such
behavior and in it find a snare for yourself.
Do not eat the food of
anyone whose eye is jealous, do not hanker for his delicacies. 7 For what he is really
thinking about is himself: 'Eat and drink,' he tells you, but his heart is not
with you.
Do not waste words on a
fool, who will not
appreciate the shrewdness of your remarks.
Do not let your heart be
envious of sinners but remain steady every day in the fear of Yahweh
Do not be envious of the
wicked or wish for their company
In the presence of the
king do not give yourself airs, do not take a place among the great; 7 better to be invited,
'Come up here', than be humiliated in the presence of the prince.
Do not answer a fool in
the terms of his folly for fear you grow like him yourself.
Do not give up your friend
or your father's friend; when trouble comes, do not go off to your brother's
house, better a near neighbor than a distant brother.
an associate of
profligates brings shame on his father.
Do not avert your eyes
from the needy
To the poor lend an ear,
and courteously return the greeting.
Attend the gathering of
elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself
to him.
If you see a man of understanding, visit
him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.
Do not turn your back on
those who weep, but share the grief of the grief-stricken.
Do not argue with anyone
argumentative, do not pile wood on that fire.
Do not joke with anyone
uncouth, for fear of hearing your ancestors insulted.
Do not revile a repentant
sinner; remember that we all are guilty.
Do not despise anyone in
old age; after all, some of us too are growing old.
Do not dismiss what the old people have
to say, for they too were taught by their parents; from them you will learn how
to think, and the art of the timely answer.
Refuse to be provoked by
the insolent, for fear that such a one try to trap you in your words.
Do not go travelling with
a rash man, for fear he becomes burdensome to you; he
will act as the whim takes him, and you will both
be ruined by his folly.
Do not argue with a
quick-tempered man, do not go with him where there are no other people, since
blood counts for nothing in his eyes, and where no help is to be had, he
will strike you down.
Do not ask a fool for
advice, since a fool will not be
able to keep a confidence.
In a stranger's presence do nothing that
should be kept secret, since you cannot tell what use the stranger will make of
it.
Do not open your heart to all comers,
nor lay claim to their good offices.
Do not
desert an old friend; the new one will not be his match. New friend, new wine;
when it grows old, you drink it with pleasure.
Do not
envy the sinner his success; you do not know how that will end.
Keep
your distance from the man who has the power to put to death, and you will not
be haunted by the fear of dying. If you do approach him, make no false move, or
he may take your life. Realize that you are treading among trip-lines, that you
are strolling on the battlements.
Cultivate your neighbors
to the best of your ability, and consult with the wise.
For conversation seek the
intelligent, let all your discussions bear on the law
of the Most High.
Have the upright for your
table companions, and let your pride be in fearing the Lord.
Do not praise anyone for good looks,
nor dislike anyone for mere appearance.
Do not
admire the achievements of sinners, trust the Lord and mind your own business
Do not bring everyone home
with you, for many are the traps of the crafty.
30
Like a captive partridge in a cage, so is the heart of the proud: like a spy he
watches for your downfall, 31 ever on the look-out, turning good
into bad and finding fault with what is praiseworthy.
Beware of a scoundrel and
his evil contrivances, in case he puts a smear on you for ever.
Do not
ever trust an enemy; as bronze tarnishes, so does an enemy's malice.11 Even if he behaves humbly and comes bowing and scraping,
maintain your reserve and be on your guard against him. Behave towards him as
if you were polishing a mirror, you will find that his tarnish cannot last.12 Do not stand him beside you in case he thrusts you out
and takes your place. Do not seat him on your right, or he will be after your
position, and then you will remember what I have said and sadly admit that I
was right.
***
15 He will stay with you for a while, but if
you once give way he will press his advantage.
Who
feels sorry for a snake-charmer bitten by a snake, or for those who take risks
with savage animals? -14 just so for one who consorts with a sinner,
and becomes an accomplice in his sins.
An
enemy may have sweetness on his lips, and in his heart a scheme to throw you
into the ditch. An enemy may have tears in his eyes, but if he gets a chance
there can never be too much blood for him. 17 If you
meet with misfortune, you will find him there before you, and, pretending to
help you, he will trip you up.18 He will wag his head and clap his hands, he
will whisper a lot and his expression will change.
Whoever
touches pitch will be defiled, and anyone who associates with the proud will
come to be like them.
Do not try to carry a
burden too heavy for you, do not associate with someone more powerful and
wealthy than yourself. Why put the clay pot next to the iron cauldron? It will
only break when they bang against each other.
If you
are useful the rich will exploit you, if you go bankrupt he will desert you. 5 Are you well off? - he will live with you, he will clean
you out without a single qualm.6 Does he need you? - he will hoodwink you,
smile at you and raise your hopes; he will speak politely to you and say, “Is
there anything you need?” 7 He will make you feel small at his dinner
parties and, having cleaned you out two or three times over, will end by
laughing at you. Afterwards, when he sees you, he will avoid you and shake his
head about you.
When an
influential person invites you, show reluctance, and he will press his
invitation all the more.10 Do not thrust yourself forward, in case you
are pushed aside, but do not stand aloof, or you will be overlooked. 11 Do not affect to treat him as an equal, do not trust his
flow of words; since all this talking is expressly meant to test you, under
cover of geniality he will be weighing you up.
Pitiless is anyone who
retails gossip; he will not spare you either blows or chains.13 Be wary, take very great
care, because you are walking with your own downfall.
Every living thing loves
its own sort, and every man his fellow. 16 Every creature mixes with its kind, and human beings stick to
their own sort. 17
How can wolf and lamb agree? - Just so with sinner and devout.18 What peace can there be
between hyena and dog? And what peace between rich and poor?
Do not
waste many words on the stupid, do not go near a dolt. Beware of him, or you
will have trouble and be soiled by contact with him; keep away from him, and
you will have peace of mind and not be exasperated by his folly.
Win your neighbor’s
confidence when he is poor, so that you may enjoy his later good
fortune with him; stand by him in times of trouble, in order to have your share
when he comes into a legacy.
I shall not be ashamed to
shelter a friend nor shall I hide away from him
be patient with those who
are badly off
Do not
forget the genuine friend, do not push him out of mind once you are rich.
Any
adviser will offer advice, but some are governed by self-interest.
8 Beware of someone who offers advice; first
find out what he wants himself- since his advice coincides with his own
interest -- in case he has designs on you 9 and tells you, 'You are on the right road,'
but stands well clear to see what will happen to you.
Do not
consult anyone who looks at you askance, conceal your plans from people jealous
of you.
Do not
consult a woman about her rival, or a coward about war, a merchant about
prices, or a buyer about selling, anyone mean about gratitude, or anyone selfish
about kindness, a lazy fellow about any sort of work, or a casual worker about
finishing a job, an idle servant about a major undertaking-- do not rely on
these for any advice.
But
have constant recourse to some devout person, whom you know to be a keeper of
the commandments, whose soul matches your own, and who, if you go wrong, will
be sympathetic.
I never sat in the company
of scoffers amusing myself; with your hands on me I held myself aloof, since
you had filled me with indignation.
When you give a lunch or a
dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich
neighbors, in case they invite you back and so repay you.13 No; when you have a
party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;14 then you will be blessed, for they have no means to
repay you and so you will be repaid when the upright rise again.
My
brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ,
our glorified Lord.2 Now suppose a man comes into your synagogue,
well-dressed and with a gold ring on, and at the same time a poor man comes in,
in shabby clothes,3 and you take notice of the well-dressed man,
and say, “Come this way to the best seats”; then you tell the poor man, “Stand
over there” or “You can sit on the floor by my foot-rest.” 4 In making this distinction among yourselves have you not
used a corrupt standard?
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