Religious Texts

"He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that setteth a stone for his neighbour, shall stumble upon it: and he that layeth a snare for another, shall perish in it."

"He who betrays a secret is no longer trusted; he will no longer find reliable friends. Love your friend and be loyal; if you have revealed his secrets, go with him no longer. It is like having lost some of your relatives: his friendship to you has died. Like a bird, you have let your friend go, you will not get him back. When you open your hand, the bird flies off; do not pursue him: he is far away and has fled like a gazelle from the snare. For a wound can be bandaged and an insult forgiven, but if you betray a secret there is no hope."

"The wise man’s conversation follows wisdom all the time. In contrast, the fool changes like the moon. When among fools, be sparing with your time; among thoughtful people, be lavish with it."

"Many sin for love of gain, he who desires riches silences his conscience. Just as the stake is settled between two stones, so sin wedges itself between buying and selling. The house of him who does not keep himself firmly in the fear of the Lord will soon be knocked to the ground."

"A wife’s grace gladdens her husband and her prudence refreshes his body. A wife who knows how to be silent is a gift from the Lord; the well-trained wife is invaluable. A modest wife is a favor among favors; the chaste wife is priceless. Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord, such is the enchantment of a good wife in a well-kept house. Like the light which shines from the sacred lampstand, such is a beautiful face in a well-shaped body. Like pillars of gold on a silver base, such are beautiful legs on sturdy feet."

"Guard against the provocative woman and do not be surprised if she wishes to drag you into disgrace. She opens her mouth like a thirsty traveler to drink any water coming her way; she sits by any pole and opens her quiver to every arrow."

"Happy the husband of a good wife, the number of his days will be doubled. A woman of character is her husband’s joy, he will live in peace all the years of his life. A good wife is the best of gifts, reserved for those who fear the Lord; rich or poor, he will have a serene heart and a happy face."

"Better to live with a lion and a snake than to share a house with a wicked woman. Wickedness disfigures a woman’s appearance, it saddens the face, making her look like a bear. When her husband dines with his neighbor, he sighs bitterly, in spite of himself. All wickedness is nothing compared with a woman’s wickedness. Let her lot be that of a sinner! As a sandhill is to an old man’s feet, so is the talkative woman to her quiet husband. Do not be fooled by a woman’s beauty or fall in love with her. Expect anger, reproach and plenty of shame when the wife rules the husband. Dejected spirits, a sad face and unseen wounds, these are the work of a wicked woman. Idle hands and unsteady knees are found when a wife brings her husband no happiness. For sin began with woman and we all die because of the inheritance of the congregations of Israel. Do not let water leak out or give free rein to a wicked woman. If she does not do as you tell her, get rid of her."

"Great is he who has gained wisdom, but no one surpasses the man who fears the Lord. Since the fear of the Lord excels everything, who can compare with the one who possesses it?"

"I think of nine things which I consider happy and a tenth to which I will also refer: the man who finds his happiness in his children; the man who sees the ruin of his enemies in his lifetime. Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife; he who does not plow with a donkey and ox; he who has done no wrong in speech; he who does not serve an unworthy master. Happy he who has acquired good sense and is able to speak before an attentive audience!"

"There are three kinds of persons whom I detest and whose existence I cast away from me: a poor man full of pride, a rich man who is a liar, and an adulterous old man who is a fool."

"Three things delight me and are delightful to God and people: agreement between brothers, friendship between neighbors, and perfect harmony between husband and wife."

"Those who obey me will not be put to shame; those who serve me will not fall into sin. All this is in the Bible, the Testament of the Most High God, the book of the Law which Moses entrusted to us, the inheritance of the congregations of Israel. This Law feeds the springs of wisdom, like the Pishon or Tigris in the season of fruit. Waters overflowing with understanding come from it, as from the Euphrates and Jordan at harvest time; the floods of instruction run like the Nile or the Gihon in time of vintage."

"Remember your father and mother when you are sitting in the company of the great, lest you forget yourself in their presence and act like a fool. Then you would wish you had never been born, and curse the day of your birth."

"The sinner will be caught in his own words, as happens to the proud man and to him who curses."

"Children, learn how to control your language; if you are able to watch over it, you will not be taken by surprise."

"Win your neighbor’s confidence when he is poor so that you may enjoy his goods with him when he grows rich; be loyal in his hour of trouble and you will win, in the end, a share in his inheritance."

"Mourning the dead lasts seven days, but it lasts a lifetime for the fool and godless man."

"Weep for the dead man since the light has deserted him, weep for the fool because understanding has deserted him. Cry less for the dead man; he has found his rest but the fool’s life is worse than death."

"When the godless man curses his opponent, the curse descends on himself. The slanderer taints himself and makes himself hated by all around him."

"Strangers speak thoughtlessly of everything, while wise men’s words are carefully weighed. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their heart."

"Listening outside doors reveals a bad upbringing, the upright man would be ashamed of doing so."

"If an educated man hears a wise saying he values it and adds another. If the good-for nothing hears it he is annoyed and tosses it over his shoulder."

"The man who is not clever will never be taught; but there is a cleverness which leads to bitterness. The wise man’s knowledge spreads out like a flood and his advice is like a spring."

"He who keeps the Law is in control of his thoughts; the fear of the Lord brings wisdom."

"The meeting of sinners is like a pile of rope which will go up in fire and flames. The path of sinners is well paved but it ends in the fiery abyss."

"Whoever hates correction goes the way of sinners; he who fears the Lord turns to him in his heart."

"Have you sinned, my son? Do not do it again and beg forgiveness for your past sins. Escape from sin as you would from a snake; if you go near, it will bite you. Its teeth are like those of a lion and destroy human lives."

"Concealed wisdom and hidden treasure: what good are these? The man who conceals his stupidity is better than one who conceals his wisdom."

"Presents and gifts blind a wise man’s eyes; like a muzzle they silence the conscientious."

"Lying is a shameful defect in a man; fools are used to it. Better to be a thief than a liar, yet both are heading for disaster. Habitual lying is detestable; disgrace never leaves the liar."

"Better to stumble on the ground than to make a slip with the tongue; this is how easily the wicked fall."

"One keeps silent and is thought to be wise, the other makes himself hated because of his gossiping. One remains silent because he does not know how to reply; the other keeps quiet, waiting for the right moment. The wise man keeps silent until the right moment; the chatterer and fool speak out of turn."

"A man’s way of dressing reveals who he is, as does his manner of laughing and walking."

"All wisdom is in the fear of the Lord; in all wisdom is the fulfillment of the Law. Knowledge of evil is not wisdom, and prudence is not found in the advice of sinners. There is a cleverness that is loathsome; it belongs to the evildoer who lacks wisdom. Better to lack sense and be full of the fear of the Lord, than to be clever in violating the Law."

"Speak with your neighbor before you heap accusations on him; then leave room for the Law of the Almighty."

"Speak with your friend: perhaps he has done nothing and, if he has, he will not do it again. Speak with your friend: perhaps he has not said anything and, if he has, he will not say it again. Speak with your friend for there is much slander; do not believe all that you hear. Often, unintentional slips are made; for who has never sinned by evil tongues?"

"One who revels in pleasure will be condemned, hating gossip will save one from evil. Never repeat what you are told and you will come to no harm. Report nothing to friend or foe and, unless silence is sinful, reveal it to no one. They will listen, distrust you and you will end up being hated. Have you heard something? Let it die with you, remain calm; you will not burst with it. A fool suffers like a woman in childbirth over something he is told. Like an arrow stuck in his thigh, such is a secret inside a fool."

"Wine and women corrupt the best of men; whoever frequents prostitutes loses all sense of shame."

"Do not take pleasure in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense. Do not impoverish yourself by feasting on credit when you have nothing in your pocket."

"Do not let your passions rule you and restrain your desires. If you satisfy your lusts you will make yourself the laughingstock of your enemies."

"The prudent man is cautious in everything; when sin abounds he will keep away from wrongdoing. Every sensible man recognizes wisdom and respects those who obtain her. Those who speak sensibly are wise, and marvelous sayings flow from them."

"When you experience abundance, remember the days of famine; when you enjoy riches, think of poverty and misery. Time slips by between morning and evening, all things pass quickly before the Lord."

"Prepare yourself before praying and do not be one of those who tempt the Lord. Keep in mind the justice of the last days; God will turn his face from you on the day of vengeance."

"Let nothing prevent you from fulfilling your vow on time; do not wait until death to put things in order."

"Find out the facts before you speak; look after yourself before you become ill."

"What is man? What is his purpose? What is the good in him and what the bad? Take the length of his life: a hundred years is long. Like a drop of water from the sea, a grain of sand, such are his few years compared with eternity. For this reason, the Lord has patience with them and pours out his mercy on them. He sees and realizes how miserable their end is and so he heaps his forgiveness upon them. Man’s mercy is for his neighbor but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd. He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will."

"What is brighter than the sun? Yet it disappears. Man is no more than flesh and blood, yet he thinks of doing evil. While the sun surveys the stars in the lofty sky, human beings remain dust and ashes."

"He allows those who repent to return; he comforts those whose hopes are fading. Be converted to the Lord and give up your sins, plead with him to lessen your offense. Return to the Almighty, turn aside from wrongdoing and totally detest evil. For who in the grave will praise the Almighty, if the living do not give him glory? The dead man is as if he did not exist and cannot give praise; he who has life and health can praise the Lord. How great is the mercy of the Lord and his forgiveness for those who turn to him!"

"He holds a man’s almsgiving dear as a priceless signet ring; he cherishes a good deed like the apple of his eye. One day he will rise and reward them; he will place their prize on their heads."