When the righteous prosper the city rejoices, THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD 339. CITIZEN TEMPERANCE IN EATING AND DRINKING If you find honey, eat what is sufficient That you may not be surfeited and vomit it up. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is turbulent, Who has contentions? Who complains? They who linger long over wine, They who go in to taste mixed wine. So look not on wine when it is red, Then you will see strange things, I have been beaten, I am not conscious of it. I will seek it yet again.' 340. RESTRAINT IN SPEAKING Do you see a man who speaks before he thinks? He who answers before he hears Covers himself with confusion. He who is sparing of words has knowledge, He who guards his mouth and tongue Life and death are in the power of the tongue; A man has joy from the utterance of his mouth, Is like golden fruit in silver settings. Pleasant words are like honeycomb, Sweet to the taste and healing to the body. 341. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD TEMPTATION Happy is the man who is ever on his guard, But he who is obdurate falls into misfortune. Let your eyes look right ahead, And let your gaze be straight before you. And let all your ways be stable. Keep your foot far from evil. Eat not the bread of him who is inhospitable, Nor desire to share his dainties; For he is like one who keeps his thoughts to himself. 'Eat and drink,' he says to you, But his heart is not with you. The morsel you have eaten you shall spit out, And you shall lose your sweet words, As a troubled fountain and a ruined spring, So is a just man who gives way before the wicked. 342. CONTROL OF THE SENSUAL PASSIONS He who loves wisdom rejoices his father, But he who associates with harlots wastes his wealth. Give not your strength to women, Nor your morals to those who slay kings. My son, give me your attention, And pay careful heed to my guidance; For a harlot is a deep pit, And an adulteress a narrow well. She lies in wait as a robber, And increases the faithless among men. For the lips of a harlot drop honey, Her feet lead down to death, And her steps reach the abode of the dead. Now therefore, my son, give heed, And do not depart from my words. Keep the course of your life far from her, Lest you give your honor to others, Lest you groan when your end shall come, I have disregarded the voice of my teachers, Can a man take fire in his bosom And his feet not be scorched? So with him who goes in to his neighbor's wife; He who commits adultery is devoid of sense. Wounds and dishonor shall he receive, 343. CONTROL OF THE TEMPER A mild answer turns away wrath, A man without self-control Is a ruined city whose wall is broken. The quick-tempered man acts foolishly, An irascible man stirs up contention, He who is patient is better than a warrior, And he who rules his temper than he who takes a city. |