Miscellaneous Advice

¹ Do no evil, and evil will never befall you.

² Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.

³ My son, do not sow the furrows of injustice, and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.

⁴ Do not seek from the Lord the highest office or the seat of honour 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, lest you lack the strength to remove iniquity, lest you be partial to a powerful man, and thus put a blot on your integrity.

⁷ Do not offend against the public and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

⁸ Do not commit a sin twice; even for one you will not go unpunished.

⁹ Do not say, “He will consider the multitude of my gifts, and when I make an offering to the Most High God he will accept it.”

¹⁰ Do not be faint-hearted in your prayer or neglect to give alms.

¹¹ Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in soul, for there is one who abases and exalts.

¹² Do not devise a lie against your brother or do the like to a friend.

¹³ Refuse to utter any lie, for the habit of lying serves no good.

¹⁴ Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders or repeat yourself in your prayer.

¹⁵ Do not hate toilsome labour and farm work, which were created by the Most High.

¹⁶ Do not count yourself among the crowd of sinners; remember that wrath does not delay.

¹⁷ Humble your soul greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and the worm.

Relations with Others

¹⁸ Do not exchange a friend for money or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.

¹⁹ Do not depart from a wise and good wife, for her charm is worth more than gold.

²⁰ Do not abuse a servant who performs his work faithfully or a hired labourer who devotes himself to you.

²¹ Let your soul love an intelligent servant; do not withhold from him his freedom.

²² Do you have cattle? Look after them; if they are profitable to you, keep them.

²³ Do you have children? Discipline them and make them obedient from their youth.

²⁴ Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.

²⁵ Give a daughter in marriage, and you will have finished a great task, and give her to a man of understanding.

²⁶ Do you have a wife like your soul? Do not cast her out; and do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.

²⁷ With all your heart honour your father and do not forget the birth pains of your mother.

²⁸ Remember that through your parents you were born; and what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?

²⁹ With all your soul fear the Lord and admire his priests.

³⁰ With all your might love your Maker and do not forsake his ministers.

³¹ Fear the Lord and honour the priest and give him his portion, as is commanded you: the firstfruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders, the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.

³² Stretch forth your hand to the poor person, so that your blessing may be complete.

³³ The kindness of a gift is before all the living, and do not hinder a kindness for the dead.

³⁴ Do not fail those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.

³⁵ Do not hesitate to visit a sick man, because for such deeds you will be loved.

³⁶ In all your affairs, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin.