New English [1970], THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE) [word count] [B16000].
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1 Do no evil, and evil will not come upon you;
2 turn away from wrong, and it will avoid you.
3 Do not sow in the furrows of injustice,
for fear of reaping a sevenfold crop.
4 Do not ask the Lord for high office
or the king for preferment.
5 Do not pose as a righteous man before the Lord
or play the sage in the king's presence.
6 Do not aspire to be a judge,
unless you have the strength to put an end to injustice;
for you may be intimidated by a man of rank
and so compromise your integrity.
7 Do not commit an offence against the community
and so incur a public disgrace.
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The ways of wisdom
8 Do not pile sin upon sin,
for even one is enough to make you guilty.
9 Do not say, ‘My liberality will be taken into account;
when I make an offering to God Most High he will accept it.’
10 Do not grow weary of praying
or neglect the giving of charity.
11 Never laugh at a man in his bitter humiliation,
for there is One who both humbles and exalts.
12 Do not plot to deceive your brother
or pay back a friend in his own coin.
13 Refuse ever to tell a lie;
it is a habit from which no good comes.
14 Never be garrulous among your elders
or repeat yourself when you pray.
15 Do not resent manual labour or farm-work,
for it was ordained by the Most High.
16 Do not enlist in the ranks of sinners;
remember that retribution will not delay.
17 Humble yourself to the uttermost,
for the doom of the impious is fire and worms.
18 Do not part with a friend for gain, note
or a true brother for all the gold of Ophir.
19 Do not lose the chance of a wise and good wife,
for her attractions are worth more than gold.
20 Do not ill-treat a slave who works honestly
or a hired servant whose heart is in his work.
21 Love a good slave from the bottom of your heart
and do not grudge him his freedom.
22 Have you cattle? Take care of them,
and if they bring you profit, keep them.
23 Have you sons? Discipline them
and break them in from their earliest years.
24 Have you daughters? See that they are chaste,
and do not be too lenient with them.
25 Marry your daughter, and a great load will be off your hands;
but give her to a sensible husband.
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The ways of wisdom
26 If you have a wife after your own heart, do not divorce her;
but do not trust yourself to one you cannot love.
27 Honour your father with all your heart
and do not forget your mother's birth-pangs;
28 remember that your parents brought you into the world;
how can you repay what they have done for you?
29 Fear the Lord with all your heart
and reverence his priests.
30 Love your Maker with all your might
and do not leave his ministers without support.
31 Fear the Lord and honour the priest
and give him his dues, as you have been commanded,
the firstfruits, the guilt-offering, and the shoulder of the victim,
the dedication sacrifice, and the firstfruits of holy things.
32 Be open-handed also with the poor,
so that you own well-being may be complete.
33 Every living man appreciates generosity;
do not withhold your kindness even when a man is dead.
34 Do not turn your back on those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.
35 Do not hesitate to visit the sick,
for by such visits you will win their affection.
36 Whatever you are doing, remember the end that awaits you;
then all your life you will never go wrong.
New English [1970], THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE) [word count] [B16000].
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