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Wisdom of Ben Sira 33:25-27
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 33:25-27
New Catholic Bible
How To Treat Slaves[a]
25 To a donkey belong fodder, the stick, and burdens;
to slaves belong bread, discipline, and work.
26 If you work your slave hard, you will have rest for yourself;
if you allow his hands to be idle, he will seek his freedom.
27 Yoke and harness will bow the neck of an ox;
for a wicked slave, apply the rack and torture.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 33:25 This text reflects the situation of one epoch and the harsh ideas that ruled all education in antiquity. In this environment, the author tempers the harshness of the customs, for he recognizes a justice toward slaves to save them from the arbitrariness of the master (Ex 21:1-6, 26-27; Lev 25:46), and the last verse expresses a discreet note of humanity.
For the attitude toward slavery in the New Testament, see Eph 6:9; Col 4:1; Philem 16.
