9 and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you. (WEB) 10 Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. (WEB) 11 Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel. (WEB)
Sirach 37:9–11
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 12:11–13
11 Though he humbles himself and walks bowed down, still be careful and beware of him. You will be to him as one who has wiped a mirror, to be sure it doesn’t completely tarnish. (WEB) 12 Don’t set him next to you, lest he overthrow you and stand in your place. Don’t let… (WEB) 13 … (WEB)
Sirach 8:16–18
16 Don’t fight with a wrathful man. Don’t travel with him through the desert, for blood is as nothing in his sight. Where there is no help, he will overthrow you. (WEB) 17 Don’t consult with a fool, for he will not be able to keep a secret. (WEB) 18 Do no secret thing before a stra… (WEB)
Sirach 13:10–12
10 Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back. Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten. (WEB) 11 Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; for he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner. (WEB) 12 He who doesn’t keep s… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 7:20–22
20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. 21 Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22 For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Tobit 4:17–19
17 Pour out your bread on the burial of the just, and give nothing to sinners. (WEB) 18 Ask counsel of every man who is wise, and don’t despise any counsel that is profitable. (WEB) 19 Bless the Lord your God at all times, and ask of him that your ways may be made straight, and tha… (WEB)
Proverbs 3:28–30
28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means. 29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you. 30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
Sirach 9:13–15
13 Keep yourself far from the man who has power to kill, and you will not be troubled by the fear of death. If you come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away your life. Know surely that you go about in the midst of snares, and walk upon the battlements of a… (WEB)
Sirach 22:12–14
12 Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but for a fool and an ungodly man, it lasts all the days of his life. (WEB) 13 Don’t talk much with a foolish man, and don’t go to one who has no understanding. Beware of him, lest you have trouble and be defiled in his onslaught… (WEB)
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