Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech. Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part.
My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it. One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more.
Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery-- Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD.
Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?" Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?" The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.
For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds. A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed. Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.
Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one; Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household.
Sirach 11:8-14, 23-29, 34
My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it. One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more.
Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery-- Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD.
Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?" Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?" The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.
For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds. A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed. Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.
Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one; Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household.
Sirach 11:8-14, 23-29, 34