Choosing Colleagues
Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 1. Whoever touches pitch will be stained, And whoever associates with an arrogant man will become like him. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 2. Do not lift a weight too heavy for you, Nor associate with a man stronger and richer than you. What does a clay pot have in common with a copper kettle? For the clay pot will strike against the kettle and will itself be broken. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 3. A rich man does wrong and even proves himself to be the one wronged. A poor man is wronged, and he must apologize. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 4. If you can be useful to him, a rich man will make use of you; But if you are in need, he will abandon you. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 5. If you own anything, he will live with you, And he will exhaust you, but will not feel sorry for you. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 6. When he needs you, he will deceive you and smile at you; And he will give you hope and say good things to you. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 7. He will even say, “What do you need?” He will shame you with his foods Until he exhausts you two or three times. Then at last he will mock you. If he should see you after this, he will forsake you And shake his head over you. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 8. Take heed, lest you be led astray And be humiliated in your folly. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 9. When a ruler invites you, be slow to accept, And he will invite you more often. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 10. Do not press upon him, lest you be rejected, But do not withdraw at a distance, lest you be forgotten. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 11. Do not intend to speak to him as an equal, And do not trust his abundance of words; For he will test you with a lot of talk, And while he is smiling, he will scrutinize you. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 12. He who does not guard your words is unmerciful, And he will not hesitate to harm or imprison you. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 13. Keep your words to yourself, and be very careful, For you are walking near your own fall.
Like Attracts Like
Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 14. Every living creature loves its like, And every man his neighbor. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 15. All flesh gathers together by species, And every man clings to one like himself. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 16. What wolf will associate with a lamb? No more will the sinner with a godly man. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 17. What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? And what peace does a rich man have with a poor man? Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 18. The prey of lions are wild asses in the wilderness. Similarly, the pastures of the rich are the poor.
Rich and Poor
Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 19. Lowness of stature is an abomination to the arrogant; Thus a poor man is an abomination to a rich man. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 20. When a rich man is shaken, he is strengthened by friends; But when a humble man falls, he is pushed away by friends. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 21. When a rich man falls, there are many to help him; And when he speaks abominable words, they justify him. If a humble man falls, they criticize him further; And when he speaks with intelligence, no place is given to him. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 22. When a rich man speaks, everyone is silent, And they exalt his word to the clouds. A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this man?” And if he stumbles, they push him down even further. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 23. Wealth in which there is no sin is good, But poverty is evil in the mouth of an ungodly man. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 24. The heart of a man changes the expression on his face, Either for good or for evil. Wisdom of Sirach 13, verse 25. The mark of a heart filled with goodness is a cheerful face, But the invention of proverbs requires laborious reasoning.