XIX
Refraining from Slander
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Behold the man who doeth iniquity and who speaketh not so much as the name of righteousness: it is sweet even unto him if men say, Lo, here is one who backbiteth not.
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It is wrong to turn away from good and do evil: but it is far worse to smile before and vilify behind.
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It is worthier to die at once than live by lying and slander: for such a death bringeth with it the fruits of righteousness.
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Slander not a man behind his back even though he hath insulted thee to thy very face.
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The lips may speak righteousness: but a slanderous tongue betrayeth the meanness of the heart.
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If thou slander another, he will look into thy own transgressions and expose the worst of them.
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They that know not to speak sweet and to make friendships create discord and separate men who were friends.
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Those that speak abroad the transgressions of their friends, how will they spare the transgressions of their enemies?
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How doth the Earth suffer patiently the tread of the calumniator on her bosom? Is it that she looketh unto Righteousness to rid her of him?
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If a man can scan his own faults as he doth those of his enemies, can evil ever come to him?
XX
Refraining from Vain Speaking
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Behold the man that angereth the public by the speaking of vain words: he will be despised of all men.
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Worse even than injuring one’s friends is the speaking of vain words before many.
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He that multiplieth empty words declareth loud his want of worth.
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Behold the man that speaketh vain words in an assembly: no profit will come unto him and all that is good will flee from his side.
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Even the worthy will lose honour and respect if they indulge in vain speaking.
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Call not him man who loveth idle words: call him rather a chaff among men.
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Let the wise, if they deem it meet, speak even hard words: but it is good for them to desist from profitless speech.
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The wise whose thoughts are set on great questions utter not words that are profitless and vain.
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They whose eyes are whole say not vain words even by oversight.
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Speak thou the speech that bringeth forth profit: but speak not ever words that are profitless and vain.
XXI
Fear of Evildoing
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The evil fear not the folly called sin: but the worthy flee from it.
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Evil bringeth forth evil: evil therefore shall be feared even more than fire.
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The chiefest wisdom, they say, is to abstain from injury even to an enemy.
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Let not a man compass another’s ruin even by oversight: for Justice will compass the ruin of him that plotteth evil.
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Let not a man work evil saying, I am poor: for, if he do, he will sink into a lower destitution than before.
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Whoso desireth not to be saddened by ills, let him abstain from doing injury to others.
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There is a way of escape from every other enemy: but ill deeds never die but pursue and destroy their author.
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As the shadow leaveth not a man but doggeth his steps wherever he goeth, even so do evil deeds pursue their author and work his destruction.
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If a man love his own self, let him not incline toward evil in any degree.
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Know that man to be secure from ills who leaveth not the straight path in order to commit wrong.
XXII
Complaisance
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The gracious expect no return when they oblige: how ever can the world repay the rain-cloud?
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The substance gathered in by the worthy by the labour of their hands is all for others’ use.
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A better thing than a gracious complaisance cannot be had either here or in heaven.
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He alone liveth who knoweth what is proper: he who knoweth not what is fitting shall be classed with the dead.
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Behold the village tank filled with water to its brim: like unto it is the prosperity of the wise man that loveth the world.
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Like unto a fruit-tree in the middle of the village bearing fruit is riches in the hands of the man of heart.
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Like unto a tree that yieldeth medicinal drugs and drieth not is riches in the hands of the generous man.
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Behold the men who know what is just and proper: they fail not to oblige others even when fallen on evil days.
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The complaisant man thinketh himself poor only when he is impotent to oblige those who solicit his aid.
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If ruin cometh as a result of complaisance, it is worth courting even by selling one’s own self into slavery.
XXIII
Charity
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Giving to the poor is alone charity: all other giving is of the nature of loan.
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Though it lead unto heaven, receiving is bad: and though heaven should be denied to the giver, giving alms is a virtue.
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It is only the highborn man that giveth without ever meanly saying, I have not.
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The heart of the giver is not glad until he seeth the smile of content on the face of the suppliant.
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The conquest of conquests to the conqueror over self is the conquest over hunger: but his conquest cometh only after the conquest of him who appeaseth that hunger.15
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To fill the gnawing hunger of the poor: that is the way that the wealthy man should lay up riches for himself.
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The evil disease called hunger toucheth not the man that divideth his bread with others.
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The hard of heart who perish their wealth by hoarding it, have not they ever tasted the delight of giving unto others?
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Bitterer verily than the beggar’s bread is the hoarded meal of the miser eating alone.
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Nothing is bitterer than death: but even death is sweet when one hath not the power to do charity.
XXIV
Glory
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Give to the poor and add glory unto thy name: there is no greater profit for man than this.
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The one theme in the mouth of all that praise is the glory of those that give unto the poor.
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Everything else dieth on earth: but the fame that hath no
