Do not add to it again, but even for your past sins entreat, that they may be forgiven you. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent; for if you draw near to them, they will take hold of you. Their teeth are the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men. All iniquity is like a two-edged sword; for its wounds there is no healing. And after four verses: He who hates reproof is on the track of a sinner; but he who fears God will turn to his own heart. And after five verses: The way of sinners is paved with stones, but at their end are hell and darkness and punishments. He who keeps righteousness will restrain his sense; the perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding. And after seven verses: Whatever wise word the knowing man shall hear, he will praise it and add it to himself:
the wanton man hears it and it displeases him, and he casts it behind his back. The discourse of a fool is like a burden on the road, but on the lips of the sensible grace is found. The mouth of the prudent is sought in the assembly, and they will ponder his words in their hearts. And after two verses: To a fool learning is like fetters on the feet, and like chains upon the right hand. A fool lifts up his voice in laughter, but a wise man will scarcely smile quietly. Learning to the prudent is a golden ornament, and like a bracelet upon the right arm. And after eight verses: In the mouth of fools is their heart, but in the heart of the wise is their mouth. While the ungodly man curses the devil, he curses his own soul. The whisperer defiles his own soul, and shall be hated in all things:
and he who abides in it shall be hateful; but the silent and sensible shall be honored. A sluggard is pelted with a filthy stone, and all will speak of his contemptibleness. And after four verses: A prudent daughter is an inheritance to her husband; but she who brings shame becomes a reproach to her father. She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and shall not be esteemed less by the ungodly; but by both she shall be dishonored. Music in mourning is an ill-timed tale, but stripes and instruction are wisdom at all times. He who teaches a fool is like one who glues a potsherd; he who tells a word to one not attending is like one who wakes a sleeper out of a deep sleep. He who recounts to a fool, and at the end says: What is this? Weep over the dead, for his light has failed:
and weep over a fool, for his sense has failed. Weep but a little over the dead, for he is at rest; but the most wicked life of a fool is worse than death. The mourning for the dead is seven days, but for the fool and the ungodly it is all the days of their life. And after twenty-one verses: One who throws a stone at birds drives them away; so he who reviles a friend dissolves the friendship. Though you have drawn a sword against a friend, do not despair, for there is a way back. Though you have opened a sad mouth against a friend, do not fear, for there is reconciliation — except for reviling and reproach and pride and the revealing of a secret and a treacherous blow: in all these things a friend will flee. And after ten verses:
Who will set a guard upon my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I may not fall by them, and that my tongue may not destroy me? Lord, Father and Ruler of my life, do not leave me, nor let me fall by them. Who will set scourges over my thought, and the teaching of wisdom in my heart, that they may not spare me in their ignorances, and that their sins may not appear, lest my ignorances increase, and my offenses be multiplied, and my sins abound, and I fall in the sight of my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me? Lord, Father and God of my life, do not abandon me to their thought. Give me not haughtiness of eyes, and turn away from me all evil desire.
Take from me the lusts of the belly, and let not the lust of copulation lay hold of me, and do not deliver me over to an irreverent and shameless soul. Hear, my sons, the instruction of the mouth; and he who keeps it shall not perish by his lips, nor be scandalized in most wicked works. In his own vanity the sinner is caught, and the proud and the reviler shall be scandalized in them. Let not your mouth become accustomed to swearing, for in it is many a fall. Let not the naming of God be constant in your mouth, and do not mingle yourself with the names of the holy ones; for you shall not be free of guilt because of them. For as a servant constantly examined is not lacking in bruises, so everyone who swears and names in vain shall not be cleansed altogether from sin.
A man who swears much shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall not depart from his house. And if he defrauds, his sin shall be upon him; and if he dissembles, he sins doubly. And if he swears in vain, he shall not be justified, for his house shall be filled with retribution. And after four verses: Let not your mouth become accustomed to coarse speech, for in it is the word of sin. Remember your father and your mother, for you sit in the midst of the great, lest perhaps God forget you in their sight, and being made foolish by your habit you suffer reproach, and would have wished you had not been born, and curse the day of your birth. A man accustomed to words of reproach shall not be corrected all the days of his life.
Two kinds of men abound in sins, and a third brings on wrath and destruction. A hot soul like a burning fire shall not be quenched until it swallows something; and a wicked man in the mouth of his own flesh shall not cease until he has kindled a fire. And after two verses: Every man who transgresses his own bed, despising in his soul and saying: Who sees me? Darkness surrounds me, and the walls cover me, and no one looks upon me; whom shall I fear? The Most High will not remember my sins. And he does not understand that His eye sees; for such a man's fear drives from him the fear of God, and the eyes of men fearing Him.
And he has not known that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, watching all the ways of men, and the depth of the abyss, and beholding the hearts of men into their hidden parts. And a little after: You who have gathered nothing in your youth, how will you find anything in your old age? How comely is judgment for the grey-headed, and for the elders to know counsel! How beautiful is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel for the honorable! The crown of old men is much experience, and their glory is the fear of God. And after ten verses: The fear of God He has set above all things. Blessed is he to whom it is granted to have the fear of God. He who holds it, to whom shall he be likened? And after twenty verses: Do not gaze upon a woman's beauty, and do not covet a woman for her beauty.
And after twenty-eight verses: A drunken woman is great wrath, and her insult and shamefulness shall not be covered. The fornication of a woman is known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids. Over a daughter who does not turn herself away keep firm watch, lest, finding an occasion, she abuse herself. Beware of every irreverence of the eyes, and do not marvel if she neglects you. And after four verses: The grace of a diligent wife will delight her husband, and her discipline will fatten his bones. A sensible and silent woman is a gift of God, and there is no exchange for a well-instructed soul. A holy and modest woman is grace upon grace, and no weighing is worthy of a self-controlled soul. And after twelve verses:
And he who turns aside from righteousness to sin, God has prepared him for the sword. And after four verses: And he who seeks to grow rich turns away his eye. And after three verses: The offense will turn back. If you do not hold yourself steadfastly in the fear of the Lord, your house will quickly be overthrown. As dung remains in the holes of a sieve, so is the perplexity of a man in his thought. The furnace tests the potter's vessels, and the trial of tribulation tests just men. As the cultivation of a tree shows its fruit, so is the word from the thought of a man's heart. Before a discourse do not praise a man, for this is the trial of men. If you follow righteousness, you shall lay hold of her, and put her on like a robe of honor:
and you shall dwell with her, and she shall protect you forever, and in the day of recognition you shall find a firm support. Birds gather to their like, and truth returns to those who practice it. The lion always lies in wait for the prey; so do sins for those who work iniquity. A holy man abides in wisdom like the sun, but a fool changes like the moon. In the midst of the senseless keep a word for its time, but in the midst of the thoughtful be constant. The discourse of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is in the offenses of sin. The speech of one who swears much sets the hair on end, and his irreverence is a stopping of the ears. The shedding of blood is in the quarrel of the proud, and their cursing is grievous to hear.
He who lays bare a friend's secrets destroys confidence, and shall not find a friend to his soul. Love your neighbor, and be joined to him in faithfulness; but if you lay bare his hidden things, do not pursue after him. For as a man who destroys his own friend, so is he who destroys the friendship of his neighbor. And as one who lets a bird go from his hand, so have you let go your neighbor, and you shall not catch him again. Do not follow him, for he is far off; for he has escaped like a roe from the snare, because his soul is wounded, and you shall no longer be able to bind him. There is reconciliation for cursing; but to lay bare the secrets of a friend is the despair of an unhappy soul. He who winks with his eyes contrives wicked things, and no one will cast him off.
In the sight of your eyes he will sweeten his mouth, and marvel at your words; but afterward he will pervert his mouth, and cause a stumbling-block in your words. Many things I have hated, but not compared to him; and the Lord will hate him. And after two verses: He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who sets up a stone for his neighbor shall stumble against it, and he who prepares a snare for another shall perish in it. Upon him who makes a most wicked plan it shall roll back, and he shall not know from where it comes upon him. Mockery and reproach are from the proud, and vengeance shall lie in wait for him like a lion. Those who delight in the fall of the just shall perish by a snare. And after three verses:
He who wishes to be avenged shall find vengeance from God, and He will surely keep his sins in remembrance. Forgive your neighbor who wrongs you, and then, when you pray, your sins shall be loosed. A man keeps anger against another man, and seeks healing from God! He has no mercy on a man like himself, and yet entreats God for his own sins! He himself, being but flesh, keeps anger, and asks propitiation from God! Who shall entreat for his sins? Remember your last end, and cease to be at enmity; for wasting away and death are imminent in the commandments. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the ignorance of your neighbor. Abstain from strife, and you will lessen your sins.
For an angry man kindles strife, and a sinful man will trouble friends, and in the midst of those who have peace he casts in enmity. And after four verses: A hasty contention kindles a fire, and a hasty quarrel sheds blood, and a witnessing tongue brings on death. If you blow, it will blaze up like fire; and if you spit upon it, it will be quenched: and both proceed from the mouth. The whisperer and the double-tongued is accursed, for he has troubled many who had peace. A third tongue has stirred up many, and scattered them from nation to nation. It has destroyed the walled cities of the rich, and dug up the houses of the great. It has cut down the strength of peoples, and dissolved strong nations.
A third tongue has cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labors. He who heeds it shall have no rest, nor shall he have a friend in whom to find rest. And after twenty-three verses: Make a balance for your words, and straight bridles for your mouth; and take heed lest perhaps you slip with your tongue, and fall in the sight of your enemies who lie in wait for you, and your fall be incurable unto death. He who does mercy lends to his neighbor; and he who is strong of hand keeps the commandments. Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need, and again repay your neighbor in his own time. Keep your word, and deal faithfully with him, and at all times you shall find what is needful for you.
Many have regarded a loan as a windfall, and have caused trouble to those who helped them. And after thirteen verses: Nevertheless, toward the lowly in spirit be more forbearing, and do not drag him along for the sake of alms. For the commandment's sake take up the poor man, and because of his need do not send him away empty. Lose your money for a brother and a friend, and do not hide it under a stone to be lost. Lay up your treasure in the commandments of the Most High, and it shall profit you more than gold. Enclose your alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall entreat for you against every evil: above the shield of the mighty and above the spear it shall fight for you against your enemy. A good man keeps faith with his neighbor; and he who loses his sense of shame will forsake himself.
Do not forget the kindness of your surety, for he has given his life for you. The sinner and the unclean flee from one who makes a pledge for them. The sinner ascribes to himself the goods of his surety, and being ungrateful in mind, will forsake the one who delivered him. A man makes a pledge for his neighbor, and when he has lost his sense of reverence, he shall be forsaken by him. A most wicked pledge has ruined many who were prospering, and tossed them about like the waves of the sea. It has made mighty men wander into exile, and they have strayed among foreign nations. The sinner who transgresses the commandments of the Lord shall fall into a wicked pledge. And after one verse: Recover your neighbor according to your ability, and take heed to yourself, lest you fall. And after sixteen verses:
He that loveth his son chastiseth him often with the rod, that he may rejoice in his latter end. He that teacheth his son shall be praised in him. And after ten verses: An untamed horse becometh stubborn, and a son left to himself groweth headstrong. Cocker thy son, and he will make thee afraid; play with him, and he will grieve thee. Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on edge. Give him not power in his youth, and despise not his thoughts. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he is a child, lest he grow stubborn and regard thee not, and be a sorrow of soul to thee. Instruct thy son and labour upon him, lest thou be confounded by his shameful deeds.
Better is a poor man that is sound and strong in vigour, than a rich man that is weak and afflicted with malady. Health of soul in holiness of righteousness is better than all gold and silver, and a strong body than immense wealth. There is no wealth above the wealth of the health of the body, and no delight above the joy of the heart. Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest than continual sickness. Good things laid up in a closed mouth are like messes of meat set about a grave. And after five verses: Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel. Gladness of heart is the life of man, and a treasure of holiness without failing, and the joy of a man is length of days.
Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and refrain; gather up thy heart in His holiness, and drive sadness far from thee. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it. Envy and anger shorten the days, and care bringeth old age before the time. And after ten verses: He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth after corruption shall be filled with it. Many have been brought to fall for gold, and its beauty hath been their ruin. Gold is a stumbling-block to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that pursue it, and every fool shall perish by it. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish, and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his hope in money and treasures. Who is he, and we will praise him?
For he hath done wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried thereby and made perfect? It shall be to him for everlasting glory: he that could transgress and hath not transgressed, and could do evil and hath not done it; therefore are his good things established in the Lord, and the assembly of the saints shall declare his alms. And after ten verses: Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee, lest, if thou eatest much, thou be hated. Leave off first, for discipline's sake, and be not excessive, lest thou give offence. And if thou sit in the midst of many, reach not out thy hand first, nor be the first to ask to drink. How sufficient is a little wine for a well-taught man! And after sixteen verses: Rebuke not them that love wine, for wine hath destroyed many.
And after twenty-five verses: Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, with careful knowledge, to speak the first word, and hinder not music. Where there is hearing, pour not out talk, and be not unseasonably lifted up in thy wisdom. And after five verses: Young man, scarcely speak in thine own cause. If thou be twice asked, let thine answer be brief. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence, and withal seeking. In the midst of great men presume not, and where the aged are, speak not much. Before hail goeth lightning, and before shamefastness goodwill draweth near to thee. Hasten rather to thine own house, and there withdraw thyself, and there play, and pursue thy fancies, yet not in sins nor in proud words.
And above all these things bless God, who made thee, and who filleth thee with all His good things. He that feareth God will receive His discipline, and they that watch for Him early shall find blessing. He that seeketh the law shall be filled with it, and he that dealeth deceitfully shall be scandalized therein. They that fear the Lord shall find just judgment, and shall kindle righteousness as a light. The sinful man will shun reproof, and will find an interpretation according to his own will. A man of counsel will not destroy understanding. And after four verses: Son, do nothing without counsel, and after the deed thou shalt not repent. And after six verses: He that believeth God taketh heed to the commandments, and he that trusteth in Him shall not be lessened.
No evils shall befall him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation God will preserve him and deliver him from evils. A wise man hateth not the commandments and ordinances, and shall not be dashed like a ship in a storm. A man of sense believeth the law of God, and the law is faithful to him. He that maketh clear a question shall make ready a word. And a little after: Vain hope and lying are for the senseless man, and dreams lift up the imprudent. And as one that catcheth at a shadow and followeth after the wind, so also is he that heedeth lying visions. This is according to that: the vision of dreams is the likeness of a man before the face of a man. Of an unclean thing what shall be cleansed? and from a liar what truth shall be told? The divination of error, and lying auguries, and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity.
And as the heart of a woman in travail suffereth phantasies, unless a visitation be sent from the Most High, give not thy heart unto them. For dreams have caused many to err, and they have failed that put their hope in them. In these things, without lying, the word shall be accomplished, and wisdom shall be made plain in the faithful mouth. And after five verses: I have seen many things in relating, and very many turns of words. Sometimes I have been in peril even unto death for these things, and I was delivered by the grace of God. The spirit of them that fear God is sought after, and in His regard they shall be blessed. For their hope is on Him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love Him. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid, for He is his hope. Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord.
Unto whom doth he look? and who is his strength? The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear Him: He is a protector of power, a stay of strength, a covert from the heat and a shade from the noonday, a guard against stumbling and a help against falling; He lifteth up the soul and enlighteneth the eyes, giving health and life and blessing. He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not well-pleasing. The Lord is only for them that wait for Him in the way of truth and righteousness. The Most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked, neither doth He regard the oblations of the unjust, nor by the multitude of their sacrifices will He be appeased for sins. He that offereth sacrifice of the substance of the poor is as one that killeth the son in the sight of his father.
The bread of the needy is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth him is a man of blood. He that taketh away bread gotten by sweat is like him that killeth his neighbour. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers. When one buildeth and another pulleth down, what profit have they but the labour? When one prayeth and another curseth, whose voice will God hear? He that washeth himself after touching the dead, and toucheth him again, what availeth his washing? So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doeth the same again, what doth his humbling profit him? Who will hear his prayer? He that keepeth the law multiplieth prayer. It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments and to depart from all iniquity.
And it is a supplication for sins to depart from unrighteousness. Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of God, for all these things are done because of the commandment of the Lord. The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and it is an odour of sweetness in the sight of the Most High. The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not forget the memorial thereof. Give glory to God with a good heart, and diminish not the firstfruits of thy hands. In every gift make thy countenance cheerful, and sanctify thy tithes with gladness. Give to the Most High according to His gift, and with a good eye do according to the getting of thy hands: for the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee sevenfold. Offer not wicked gifts, for He will not receive them; and look not upon an unjust sacrifice:
For the Lord is judge, and there is no glory of person with Him. The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and He will hear the prayer of him that is wronged. He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless, nor the widow, when she poureth out the words of her complaint. Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causeth them to fall? And after four verses: The prayer of him that humbleth himself shall pierce the clouds. And somewhat after: Keep close to a holy man, whomsoever thou knowest to observe the fear of God, whose soul is according to thine own soul. And after five verses: And in all these things beseech the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth. And after twenty-one verses:
Son, in thy life try thy soul, and if it be wicked, give it not power; for all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not thyself out upon every meat. And after four verses: Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him, for the Most High hath created him. From God is all healing, and from the king he shall receive a gift. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and he shall be praised in the sight of great men. The Most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them. Was not bitter water made sweet by wood? The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the Most High hath given knowledge to men, that He may be honoured in His wonders.
By these things curing, He hath mitigated their pain. And after four verses: Son, in thy sickness despair not, but pray to the Lord, and He shall heal thee. Turn away from sin, and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from every sin. And after fifty verses: And give a sweet savour to thy oblation, and give place to the physician, for the Lord created him; and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary. For there is a time when thou mayest fall into their hands, and they in turn shall beseech the Lord, that He may prosper their rest and their healing for the sake of their manner of life. And after one verse: Son, shed tears over the dead, and, as one that hath suffered grievous things, begin to weep; and according to the judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.
Because of the report bitterly bear his mourning one day, and be comforted for thy sadness; for from sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth strength, and the sadness of the heart boweth down the neck. And after one verse: Give not up thy heart to sadness. And after nine verses: The wisdom of the scribe cometh in the time of leisure, and he that is less in action shall receive wisdom. And a little after: With the voice say: Obey me, ye divine fruits, and bring forth fruit as the rose planted by the brooks of waters. Have a sweet odour as Libanus; blossom as the lily, send forth a smell and bring forth leaves in grace; and praise the canticle, and bless the Lord in His works.
Give ye magnificence to His name, and confess to Him with the voice of your lips, in the canticles of the lips and with harps; and thus shall ye say in confession: All the works of the Lord are exceeding good. At His word the water stood as a heap, and at the word of His mouth as receptacles of waters; for at His command favour is shown, and there is no lessening in His salvation. The works of all flesh are before Him, and nothing is hidden from His eyes. From everlasting to everlasting He beholdeth, and nothing is wonderful in His sight. There is no saying: What is this? or, What is that? for all things shall be sought in their time. And a little after: Grace is as a paradise in blessings, and mercy abideth for ever.
And after twelve verses: Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they. And after a little: For wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both? Better is the man that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom. And somewhat after: Blessing the Lord, exalt Him as much as you can, for He is above all praise. Exalting Him, be filled with strength. And after many things: Come to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline. Why are ye still slow? and what say ye yet in these things? Your souls are exceeding thirsty. I opened my mouth and spoke: