Ben Sira 29:23-28

23 Be content with little or much, and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.

24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house; as a guest you should not open your mouth;

25 you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear rude words like these:

26 "Come here, stranger, prepare the table; let me eat what you have there."

27 "Be off, stranger, for an honored guest is here; my brother has come for a visit, and I need the guest-room."

28 It is hard for a sensible person to bear scolding about lodging and the insults of the moneylender.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lat: Gk [reproach from your family]; other ancient authorities lack this line
• [b]. Or [scolding from the household]