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Wisdom of Ben Sira 7:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 7:1-3
New Catholic Bible
The Conduct of the Wise in Public Life[a]
Chapter 7
Do No Evil, and No Evil Will Befall You[b]
1 Do no evil, and no evil will befall you;
2 avoid wickedness, and it will turn away from you.
3 My child, do not sow in the furrows of injustice
so that you will not reap a sevenfold crop.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 7:1 Many of the formulas in this Book seem to characterize a right way of acting rather than a right way of thinking, and for the most part, it is concerned with customs and conceptions of an age gone by. But the author seeks to preserve the values of Jewish life against the encroachment of what is easy. Beyond the difference of conditions of life, as well as the diversity of our options, we must continually verify our courage as humans and as believers.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 7:1 Do No Evil, and No Evil Will Befall You: in these varied counsels, which place us on guard against ambition, intrigues, pretense, and the like, we rediscover the fundamental attitude: know your limitations, and do not believe anyone, yet do not let yourself despise others in social life. This Book that often announces the mercy of God does not want it to be dishonored by stressing the ease of its attainment: Christ thus issued a threat to those who mock God and their brothers and sisters (see v. 6; Mk 9:48). We should note the respect given to manual labor (v. 15). Placed in the context of the time, the last verses concerning wives and servants bear witness to much humanity.
