Ben Sira 7:11-21

11 Don't laugh at someone who has been humiliated. It is the Lord who humbles a person, but the Lord also raises him up again.
12 Don't think up lies to tell about your friends.
13 Don't tell lies at all. It never does any good.
14 In an official assembly, don't get up and talk a lot of nonsense. And don't repeat yourself when you pray.
15 Don't try to avoid farm work or other hard labor; the Most High has given us these jobs to do.
16 Don't join up with a crowd of sinners; remember that the Lord's punishment is sure to come.
17 Be very humble, because the decay of death awaits us all.
18 Don't betray a friend for money. Don't betray a real friend for all the gold in the world.
19 Don't miss your chance to marry a wise and good woman. A gracious wife is worth more than gold.
20 Don't mistreat servants who do their work well, or employees who do their best for you.
21 Show the same love to wise servants that you would show to yourself, and let them have their freedom. 1

Cross References 1

  • 1. 7.21Exodus 21.2;Deuteronomy 15.12-15.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. [Hebrew] the decay . . . all; [Greek] the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.
  • [b]. [Hebrew] Show the same love . . . yourself; [Greek] Show love to a wise servant.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.