Глава 13

Do not lift weights beyond your strength. Do not enter into communication with those who are stronger and richer than you. Do not be intrusive, so as not to push you away; and do not move too far away, lest they forget about you. Love the Lord throughout your life and cry out to Him for your salvation. Love your neighbor. Avoid communicating with vicious people who can have a bad influence on you. Do not be unjust to a rich man because he is rich; and in relation to the poor because he is poor. Sir.13:1 Whoever touches resin will be blackened, and whoever enters into fellowship with the proud will become like him. Sir.13:2 Do not lift a load beyond your strength, and do not enter into communication with someone who is stronger and richer than you. Sir.13:3 What kind of communication does the pot have with the cauldron? This one will push it and it will break. Sir.13:4 The rich man offended, and he himself threatens; the poor man is offended, and he himself begs. Sir.13:5 If you are profitable for him, he will use you; and if you become poor, he will leave you. Sir.13:6 If you are sufficient, he will live with you and exhaust you, but he himself will not get sick. Sir.13:7 If he needs you, he will flatter you, he will smile at you and encourage you, he will speak kindly to you and say: “Do you need anything?” Sir.13:8 He will shame you with his treats until he has robbed you two or three times and finally laughs at you. Sir.13:9 After that, when he sees you, he will turn away from you and will nod his head when he meets you. Sir.13:10 Take heed lest you be deceived Sir.13:11 and not be humiliated in your joy. Sir.13:12 When a strong man invites you, turn away, and much more will he invite you. Sir.13:13 Do not be intrusive, lest they push you away, and do not move too far away, lest they forget about you. Sir.13:14 Do not allow yourself to speak to him as to your equal, and do not believe too many of his words; for with a long conversation he will tempt you and, as if jokingly, test you. Sir.13:15 He who does not restrain himself in his words is unmerciful to himself, and he will not protect himself from insult and from bonds. Sir.13:16 Be careful and very attentive, for you walk with your fall. 16. You walk with a fall, i.e. You are in constant danger of falling. Sir.13:17 When you hear this in your dream, do not fall asleep. Sir.13:18 Love the Lord throughout your life and cry out to Him for your salvation. Sir.13:19 Every animal loves what is like itself, and every man loves his neighbor. Sir.13:20 All flesh is united according to its kind, and man cleaves to those like himself. Sir.13:21 What kind of communication does a wolf have with a lamb? So it is with the sinner and the pious. Sir.13:22 What kind of peace does a hyena have with a dog? And what kind of peace does the rich have with the poor? Sir.13:23 The hunt of lions is like wild asses in the desert, so the pastures of the rich are like the poor. Sir.13:24 Humility is disgusting to the proud: so is the poor to the rich. Sir.13:25 When a rich man stumbles, he is supported by his friends; and when the poor man falls, he is pushed away by his friends. Sir.13:26 When a rich man suffers misfortune, he has many helpers; He said something absurd, and he was acquitted. Sir.13:27 The poor man has suffered misfortune, and they still scold him; He spoke intelligently, and they did not listen to him. Sir.13:28 The rich man spoke, and everyone fell silent and exalted his speech to the clouds; Sir.13:29 The poor man spoke, and they said, “Who is this?” And if he stumbles, they will completely overthrow him. Sir.13:30 Good is wealth in which there is no sin, but evil is poverty in the mouth of the wicked. 30. A wicked man in riches and in poverty is equally wicked. Sir.13:31 The heart of a man changes his face either for good or for bad. 31. A person's state of mind is reflected on his face. Sir.13:32 The sign of a heart in happiness is a cheerful face, and the invention of parables is combined with intense reflection.