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Rather Be Poor at Home than a Guest-Servant[a]

21 The basic necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing,
    as well as a house to ensure privacy.
22 Preferable is the life of a poor man in a crude hut
    than sumptuous banquets in someone else’s home.
23 Be content with what you have, whether much or little,
    and you will not be scorned as a guest.

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Footnotes

  1. Wisdom of Ben Sira 29:21 The author does not like the obsequiousness of spongers and gives a lively critique of them.