Worldly-Wise Guy: Worldly-Wise Guy: The Practical Wisdom The Practical Wisdom

of Ben Sira of Ben SiraRobert McConkeyRobert McConkey

Seneca CollegeSeneca College

1.1. Don’t get too busy Don’t get too busy

(you need time to think)(you need time to think)

The wisdom of the scribe depends on The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure, and he the opportunity of leisure, and he who has little business may become who has little business may become wise.wise.

How can he become wise who How can he become wise who handles the plough, and who glories handles the plough, and who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, oxen and is occupied with their work, and whose talk is about bulls?and whose talk is about bulls?

My son, do not busy yourself with My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply many matters; if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished.activities you will not go unpunished.

2.2. Get a job Get a job

(but not mine)(but not mine)

These things are hard to bear for a These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: scolding about man who has feeling: scolding about lodging and the reproach of the lodging and the reproach of the moneylender.moneylender.

A man who builds his house with A man who builds his house with other people’s money is like one who other people’s money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.gathers stones for his burial mound.

To take away a neighbour’s living is To take away a neighbour’s living is to murder him; to deprive an to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed employee of his wages is to shed blood.blood.

““In times of economic uncertainty, In times of economic uncertainty, never ever f--- with another man’s never ever f--- with another man’s livelihood.”livelihood.”

-- Guido the Killer -- Guido the Killer Pimp, Pimp, from the from the movie movie Risky Business Risky Business (1983)(1983)

You have gathered nothing in your You have gathered nothing in your youth; how then can you find youth; how then can you find anything in your old age?anything in your old age?

3.3. Get happy Get happy

(before it’s too late)(before it’s too late)

Gladness of heart is the life of man, Gladness of heart is the life of man, and the rejoicing of a man is length and the rejoicing of a man is length of days.of days.

My son, treat yourself well, according My son, treat yourself well, according to your means…to your means…

Remember that death will not delay, Remember that death will not delay, and the decree of Hades has not and the decree of Hades has not been shown to you.been shown to you.

Do not deprive yourself of a happy Do not deprive yourself of a happy day; let not your share of desired day; let not your share of desired good pass you by.good pass you by.

4.4. Get over it Get over it

(and move on…)(and move on…)

Do not give yourself over to sorrow, Do not give yourself over to sorrow, and do not afflict yourself and do not afflict yourself deliberately.deliberately.

Delight in your soul and comfort your Delight in your soul and comfort your heart. Remove sorrow far from you, heart. Remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many, and for sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it.there is no profit in it.

““I have no interest in sadness. I’ve I have no interest in sadness. I’ve had a look and there’s nothing down had a look and there’s nothing down that road.”that road.”

-- Rita Winters in -- Rita Winters in UnlessUnless by Carol by Carol ShieldsShields

5.5. Get drunk Get drunk

(in season)(in season)

Wine is like life to man Wine is like life to man if you drink it in moderation. if you drink it in moderation.

What is life to a man who is without What is life to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make wine? It has been created to make men glad.men glad.

Wine drunk in season and Wine drunk in season and temperately is rejoicing of heart temperately is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.and gladness of soul.

““One should always be drunk. That’s all One should always be drunk. That’s all that matters…. So as not to feel Time’s that matters…. So as not to feel Time’s horrible burden, one which breaks your horrible burden, one which breaks your shoulder and bows you down, you must shoulder and bows you down, you must get drunk without cease.get drunk without cease.

But with what? With wine, poetry, or But with what? With wine, poetry, or virtue as you choose…. So that you may virtue as you choose…. So that you may not be the martyred slaves of Time, get not be the martyred slaves of Time, get drunk….”drunk….”

-- Charles Baudelaire-- Charles Baudelaire

6.6. Get humble Get humble

(and mind your own (and mind your own business)business)

Accept whatever is brought upon Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you, and in changes that humble you be patient.you be patient.

For gold is tested in the fire, and For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.humiliation.

Seek not what is too difficult for you, Seek not what is too difficult for you, nor investigate what is beyond your nor investigate what is beyond your power.power.

Reflect upon what has been assigned Reflect upon what has been assigned to you, for you do not need what is to you, for you do not need what is hidden.hidden.

Do not meddle in what is beyond Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks, for matters too great for your tasks, for matters too great for human understanding have been human understanding have been shown to you.shown to you.

7.7. Get quiet Get quiet

(and stay that way)(and stay that way)

O that a guard were set over my O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from my lips, that it may keep me from falling [and] my tongue may not falling [and] my tongue may not destroy me.destroy me.

The mind of fools is in their mouth, The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is in their but the mouth of wise men is in their mind.mind.

There is one who keeps silent There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, while because he has no answer, while another keeps silent because he another keeps silent because he knows when to speak.knows when to speak.

8.8. Get some friends Get some friends

(“good” ones)(“good” ones)

Among stupid people watch for a Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.thoughtful people stay on.

Keep yourself far from your enemies, Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your and be on guard toward your friends.friends.

Do not consult with one who looks at Do not consult with one who looks at you suspiciously; hide your counsel you suspiciously; hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.from those who are jealous of you.

But stay constantly with one… whose But stay constantly with one… whose soul is in accord with your soul, and soul is in accord with your soul, and who will sorrow with you if you fail.who will sorrow with you if you fail.

9.9. Get a wife Get a wife

(a “good” one)(a “good” one)

A good wife is a great blessing.A good wife is a great blessing.

A silent wife is a gift… and there is A silent wife is a gift… and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined nothing so precious as a disciplined soul.soul.

Happy is the husband of a good wife; Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be the number of his days will be doubled.doubled.

I would rather dwell with a lion and a I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife.dragon than dwell with an evil wife.

Any wound, but not the wound of the Any wound, but not the wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a wife!wickedness of a wife!

Do not give yourself to a woman so Do not give yourself to a woman so that she gains mastery over your that she gains mastery over your strength.strength.

Do not go to meet a loose woman, Do not go to meet a loose woman, lest you fall into her snares. lest you fall into her snares.

Do not associate with a woman Do not associate with a woman singer, lest you be caught in her singer, lest you be caught in her intrigues.intrigues.

Do not give yourself to harlots, Do not give yourself to harlots, lest you lose your inheritance. lest you lose your inheritance.

From a woman sin had its beginning, From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die. and because of her we all die.

10.10.Get old Get old

(and get gone)(and get gone)

Speak, you who are older, for it is Speak, you who are older, for it is fitting that you should, but with fitting that you should, but with accurate knowledge, and do not accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music.interrupt the music.

Where there is entertainment, do not Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk; do not display your pour out talk; do not display your cleverness out of season.cleverness out of season.

Do not rejoice over any one’s death; Do not rejoice over any one’s death; remember that we all must die.remember that we all must die.

Do not disdain a man when he is old, Do not disdain a man when he is old, for some of us are growing old. for some of us are growing old.

When a man has finished, he is just When a man has finished, he is just beginning, and when he stops, he will beginning, and when he stops, he will be at a loss.be at a loss.

Call no one happy before his death; Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his a man will be known through his children.children.

11.11.Get real Get real

A man of no understanding has vain A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.wings to fools.

As one who catches at a shadow and As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams.heed to dreams.

And yet…And yet…

Yes, we can!Yes, we can!

Blessed is he whose heart does not Blessed is he whose heart does not condemn him, and who has not given condemn him, and who has not given up his hope.up his hope.

12. Get wise 12. Get wise

(little by little)(little by little)

A man may be shrewd and the A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many, and yet be teacher of many, and yet be unprofitable to himself.unprofitable to himself.

Establish the counsel of your own Establish the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is.you than it is.

For a man’s soul sometimes keeps For a man’s soul sometimes keeps him better informed than seven him better informed than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchmen sitting high on a watchtower.watchtower.

He who despises small things will fail He who despises small things will fail little by little. little by little.