25 Fodder, a stick, and burdens are for a donkey. Bread, discipline, and work are for a servant. (WEB) 26 Set your slave to work, and you will find rest. Leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty. (WEB)
Sirach 33:25–26
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 26:2–4
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Sirach 7:20–22
20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. (WEB) 21 Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of liberty. (WEB) 22 Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you. (WEB)
Sirach 33:31–33
31 If you have a slave, treat him like yourself, because you have bought him with blood. (WEB) 32 If you have a slave, treat him like yourself. For like your own soul, you will need him. If you treat him ill, and he departs and runs away, (WEB) 33 which way will you go to seek him? (WEB)
Proverbs 12:23–25
23 A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly. 24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. 25 Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
Proverbs 16:25–27
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward. 27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Proverbs 29:18–20
18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law. 19 A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond. 20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for…
Proverbs 10:3–5
3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked. 4 Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Proverbs 27:17–19
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. 18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. 19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
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