More Old Testament Wisdom

Topic

Scripture

General Instructions

Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and turn away from evil [PROV 3:7]

Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways [PROV 3:31]

With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life. [PROV 4:23]

Let your eyes look straight ahead and your glance be directly forward. [PROV 4:25]

Survey the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure. [PROV 4:26]

Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil. [PROV 4:27]

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have more than enough of you, and hate you. [PROV 25:17]

Let another praise you - not your own mouth; Someone else - not your own lips. [PROV 27:2]

When you make a vow to God, delay not its fulfillment. For God has no pleasure in fools; fulfill what you have vowed. You had better not make a vow than make it and not fulfill it. Let not your utterances make you guilty, and say not before his representative, "It was a mistake," lest God be angered by such words and destroy the works of your hands. [ECCL 5:3-5]

Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you, for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of others. [ECCL 7:21-22]

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment. Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting. [ECCL 11:9-10]

Be still before the LORD; wait for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers. [PS 37:7]

Exalt not yourself lest you fall and bring upon you dishonor; For then the LORD will reveal your secrets and publicly cast you down [SIRACH 1:27-28]

My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. [SIRACH 2:1-5]

What is committed to you, attend to; for what is hidden is not your concern. [SIRACH 3:21]

With what is too much for you meddle not, when shown things beyond human understanding. [SIRACH 3:22]

Deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor; let not justice be repugnant to you. [SIRACH 4:9]

Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame. [SIRACH 4:20]

Show no favoritism to your own discredit; let no one intimidate you to your own downfall. [SIRACH 4:22]

Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed. [SIRACH 4:26]

Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you. [SIRACH 4:28]

Be not surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds. [SIRACH 4:29]

Be not a lion at home, nor sly and suspicious at work. [SIRACH 4:30]

Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day [SIRACH 5:8]

Rely not upon deceitful wealth, for it will be no help on the day of wrath. [SIRACH 5:10]

Be consistent in your thoughts; steadfast be your words. [SIRACH 5:12]

Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength; Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree, For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies. [SIRACH 6:2-4]

Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you. [SIRACH 6:35]

Sow not in the furrows of injustice, lest you harvest it sevenfold. [SIRACH 7:3]

Seek not from the LORD authority, nor from the king a place of honor. [SIRACH 7:4]

Parade not your justice before the Lord, and before the king flaunt not your wisdom. [SIRACH 7:5]

Seek not to become a judge if you have not strength to root out crime, Or you will show favor to the ruler and mar your integrity. [SIRACH 7:6]

Be not impatient in prayers, and neglect not the giving of alms. [SIRACH 7:10]

Delight not in telling lie after lie, for it never results in good. [SIRACH 7:13]

Hate not laborious tasks, nor farming, which was ordained by the Most High. [SIRACH 7:15]

Do not esteem yourself better than your fellows; remember, his wrath will not delay. [SIRACH 7:16]

Honor God and respect the priest; give him his portion as you have been commanded: First fruits and contributions, due sacrifices and holy offerings. [SIRACH 7:31]

Reject not the tradition of old men which they have learned from their fathers; From it you will obtain the knowledge how to answer in time of need. [SIRACH 8:9]

Lend not to one more powerful than yourself; and whatever you lend, count it as lost. [SIRACH 8:12]

Go not surety beyond your means; think any pledge a debt you must pay. [SIRACH 8:13]

Before a stranger do nothing that should be kept secret, for you know not what it will engender. [SIRACH 8:18]

Avert your eyes from a comely woman; gaze not upon the beauty of another's wife - Through woman's beauty many perish, for lust for it burns like fire. [SIRACH 9:8]

Rejoice not at a proud man's success; remember he will not reach death unpunished. [SIRACH 9:12]

Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?" Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?" The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity. A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed. [SIRACH 11:23-27]

Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known. [SIRACH 11:28]

Bear no burden too heavy for you; go with no one greater or wealthier than yourself. How can the earthen pot go with the metal cauldron? When they knock together, the pot will be smashed [SIRACH 13:2]

Before making a vow have the means to fulfill it; be not one who tries the LORD. [SIRACH 18:23]

Go not after your lusts, but keep your desires in check. Have no joy in the pleasures of a moment which bring on poverty redoubled [SIRACH 18:30, 32]

Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults. [SIRACH 28:7]

Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home; A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth. [SIRACH 29:23-24]

Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding; Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days. [SIRACH 30:21-22]

Distract yourself, renew your courage, drive resentment far away from you; For worry has brought death to many, nor is there aught to be gained from resentment. [SIRACH 30:23]

Let not wine-drinking be the proof of your strength, for wine has been the ruin of many. [SIRACH 31:25]

When it is time to leave, tarry not; be off for home! There take your ease [SIRACH 32:11]

Do nothing without counsel, and then you need have no regrets. [SIRACH 32:19]

Go not on a way that is set with snares, and let not the same thing trip you twice. [SIRACH 32:20]

While breath of life is still in you, let no man have dominion over you. Give not to another your wealth, lest then you have to plead with him; Far better that your children plead with you than that you should look to their generosity. Keep control over all your affairs; let no one tarnish your glory. [SIRACH 33:21-23]

Force him to work that he be not idle, for idleness is an apt teacher of mischief. [SIRACH 33:28]

My son, while you are well, govern your appetite so that you allow it not what is bad for you; For not every food is good for everyone, nor is everything suited to every taste. Be not drawn after every enjoyment, neither become a glutton for choice foods, For sickness comes with overeating, and gluttony brings on biliousness. Through lack of self-control many have died, but the abstemious man prolongs his life. [SIRACH 37:26-30]

Flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your heart of every sin [SIRACH 38:10]

Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated. Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands; The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number. [SIRACH 41:11-13]

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Other Truths & Observations

Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses. [PROV 10:12]

A newsmonger reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps a confidence. [PROV 11:13]

For lack of guidance a people falls; security lies in many counselors. [PROV 11:14]

The just man takes care of his beast, but the heart of the wicked is merciless. [PROV 12:10]

A shrewd man conceals his knowledge, but the hearts of fools gush forth folly. [PROV 12:23]

Anxiety in a man's heart depresses it, but a kindly word makes it glad. [PROV 12:25]

Wealth quickly gotten dwindles away, but amassed little by little, it grows. [PROV 13:11]

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life. [PROV 13:12]

Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death! [PROV 14:12]

Even in laughter the heart may be sad, and the end of joy may be sorrow. [PROV 14:13]

The simpleton believes everything, but the shrewd man measures his steps. [PROV 14:15]

In all labor there is profit, but mere talk tends only to penury. [PROV 14:23]

A tranquil mind gives life to the body, but jealousy rots the bones. [PROV 14:30]

Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many. [PROV 15:22]

A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart; good news invigorates the bones. [PROV 15:30]

A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones. [PROV 17:22]

Without knowledge even zeal is not good; and he who acts hastily, blunders. [PROV 19:2]

The ear that hears, and the eye that sees - the LORD has made them both. [PROV 20:12]

A good name is more desirable than great riches, and high esteem, than gold and silver. [PROV 22:1]

Like a bird that is far from its nest is a man who is far from his home. [PROV 27:8]

He who tends a fig tree eats its fruit, and he who is attentive to his master will be enriched. [PROV 27:18]

As one face differs from another, so does one human heart from another. [PROV 27:19]

For wealth lasts not forever, nor even a crown from age to age. [PROV 27:24]

Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. [PS 1:1]

What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!" has already existed in the ages that preceded us. [ECCL 1:9-10]

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. [ECCL 3:1]

I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life. For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God. [ECCL 3:12-13]

I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered. What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced. [ECCL 3:14-15]

If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up. So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm? Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken. [ECCL 4:10-12]

Sorrow is better than laughter, because when the face is sad the heart grows wiser. [ECCL 7:3]

"A fly that dies can spoil the perfumer's ointment, and a single slip can ruin much that is good." [ECCL 9:18]

When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish. [ECCL 10:3]

Woe to you who have lost hope! what will you do at the visitation of the LORD? [SIRACH 2:14]

He who does a kindness is remembered afterward; when he falls, he finds a support. [SIRACH 3:30]

Who will acquit him who condemns himself? who will honor him who discredits himself? [SIRACH 10:28]

Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery - Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. [SIRACH 11:12-13]

The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance; withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schemer. [SIRACH 13:25]

The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners. [SIRACH 19:18]

It is much better to admonish than to lose one's temper, for one who admits his fault will be kept from disgrace. [SIRACH 20:2]

Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss. [SIRACH 20:8]

Some gifts do one no good, and some must be paid back double. [SIRACH 20:9]

Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can lift up his head. [SIRACH 20:10]

A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over. [SIRACH 20:11]

Favors and gifts blind the eyes; like a muzzle over the mouth they silence reproof. [SIRACH 20:28]

Small stones lying on an open height will not remain when the wind blows; Neither can a timid resolve based on foolish plans withstand fear of any kind. [SIRACH 22:18]

The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband. [SIRACH 25:21]

No treasure greater than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart! [SIRACH 30:16]

Envy and anger shorten one's life, worry brings on premature old age. [SIRACH 30:24]

Remember that gluttony is evil. No creature is greedier than the eye: therefore it weeps for any cause. [SIRACH 31:13]

For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished. [SIRACH 34:7]

If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear? [SIRACH 34:24]

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