Sirach 8

Strive not with a mighty man,

Lest thou fall into his hands.

^2aBe not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee:

For ^bgold hath destroyed many,

And perverted the hearts of kings.

³Strive not with a man that is full of tongue,

And ^cheap not wood upon his fire.

⁴Jest not with a rude man,

Lest thy ancestors be disgraced.

^5dReproach not a man that turneth from sin,

But remember that we are all worthy of ^epunishment.

^6fDishonour not a man in his old age:

For even some of us wax old.

⁷Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead,

But remember that we die all.

⁸Despise not the discourse of the wise,

But acquaint thyself with their proverbs:

For of them thou shalt learn instruction,

And how to serve great men with ease.

^9gMiss not the discourse of the elders:

For they also learned of their fathers,

And of them thou shalt learn understanding,

And ^hto give answer as need requireth.

¹⁰ⁱKindle not the coals of a sinner,

Lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire.

¹¹Rise not up in anger at the presence of an injurious person,

Lest he lie in wait ^jto entrap thee in thy words.

^12kLend not unto him that is mightier than thyself;

For if thou lendest him, count it but lost.

¹³Be not surety above thy power:

For ^lif thou be surety, take care to pay it.

¹⁴Go not to law with a judge;

For they will judge for him according to his honour.

^15mTravel not by the way with a bold fellow,

Lest he become grievous unto thee:

For he will do according to his own will,

And thou shalt perish with him through his folly.

¹⁶ⁿStrive not with an angry man,

And go not with him into a solitary place:

For blood is as nothing in his sight;

And where there is no help, he will overthrow thee.

^17oConsult not with a fool;

For ^phe cannot keep counsel.

¹⁸Do no secret thing before a stranger;

For thou knowest not what he will bring forth.

¹⁹Open not thine heart to every man,

Lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn.

IX.