Ben Sira 7:1-8

1 Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.
2 Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.
3 Do not sow in the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.
4 Do not seek from the Lord high office, or the seat of honor from the king.
5 Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord, or display your wisdom before the king.
6 Do not seek to become a judge, or you may be unable to root out injustice; you may be partial to the powerful, and so mar your integrity.
7 Commit no offense against the public, and do not disgrace yourself among the people.
8 Do not commit a sin twice; not even for one will you go unpunished.

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.