26 Set your slave to work, and you will find rest. Leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty. (WEB) 27 Yoke and whip will bow the neck. For an evil slave there are racks and tortures. (WEB) 28 Send him to labor, that he not be idle, for idleness teaches much mischief. (WEB)
Sirach 33:26–28
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 30:12–14
12 Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he become stubborn, and be disobedient to you, and there be sorrow to your soul. (WEB) 13 Chastise your son, and give him work, lest his shameless behavior be an offense to you. (WEB) 14 Better i… (WEB)
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.
Exodus 5:8–10
8 But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” 10 So…
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.
Proverbs 19:14–16
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
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.
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