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Miscellaneous Advice

7Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.
² Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.
³ Do^* not sow in the furrows of injustice,
   and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.

⁴ Do not seek from the Lord high 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,
   or you may be unable to root out injustice;
you may be partial to the powerful,
   and so mar your integrity.
⁷ Commit no offence against the public,
   and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

⁸ Do not commit a sin twice;
   not even for one will you go unpunished.
⁹ Do not say, ‘He will consider the great number of my gifts,
   and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.’
¹⁰ Do not grow weary when you pray;
   do not neglect to give alms.
¹¹ Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,
   for there is One who humbles and exalts.
¹² Do not devise^* a lie against your brother,
   or do the same to a friend.
¹³ Refuse to utter any lie,
   for it is a habit that results in no good.
¹⁴ Do not babble in the assembly of the elders,
   and do not repeat yourself when you pray.

¹⁵ Do not hate hard labour
   or farm work, which was created by the Most High.
¹⁶ Do not enrol in the ranks of sinners;
   remember that retribution does not delay.
¹⁷ Humble yourself to the utmost,
   for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.^*

Relations with Others

¹⁸ Do not exchange a friend for money,
   or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.
¹⁹ Do not dismiss^* a wise and good wife,
   for her charm is worth more than gold.
²⁰ Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully,
   or hired labourers who devote themselves to their task.
²¹ Let your soul love intelligent slaves;^*
   do not withhold from them their 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 complete a great task;
   but give her to a sensible man.
²⁶ Do you have a wife who pleases you?^* Do not divorce her;
   but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.

²⁷ With all your heart honour your father,
   and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.
²⁸ Remember that it was of your parents^* you were born;
   how can you repay what they have given to you?

²⁹ With all your soul fear the Lord,
   and revere his priests.
³⁰ With all your might love your Maker,
   and do not neglect his ministers.
³¹ Fear the Lord and honour the priest,
   and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:
the first fruits, the guilt-offering, the gift of the shoulders,
   the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.

³² Stretch out your hand to the poor,
   so that your blessing may be complete.
³³ Give graciously to all the living;
   do not withhold kindness even from the dead.
³⁴ Do not avoid those who weep,
   but mourn with those who mourn.
³⁵ Do not hesitate to visit the sick,
   because for such deeds you will be loved.
³⁶ In all you do, remember the end of your life,
   and then you will never sin.