Sirach 8 Striue not with a mightie man, least thou fal into his handes.

Geneva⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Striue not with a mightie man, least thou fal into his handes. ² Make not variance with a rich man, lest he on the other side weigh downe thy weyght: for golde and siluer hath destroyed many, and hath subuerted the hearts of kings. ³ Striue not with a man that is full of wordes, and lay no stickes vpon his fire. ⁴ Play not with a man that is vntaught, least thy kinred be dishonoured. ⁵ Despise not a man that turneth himselfe away from sinne, nor cast him not in the teeth withall, but remember that we are all worthy blame. ⁶ Dishonour not a man in his olde age: for they were as we which are not olde. ⁷ Be not glad of the death of thine enemy, but remeber that we must die all, & so enter into ioy. ⁸ Despise not the exhortation of the Elders that be wise, but acquaint thy selfe with their wise sentences: for of them thou shalt learne wisdome, and the doctrine of vnderstanding, and how to serue great men without complaynt. ⁹ Go not from the doctrine of the Elders: for they haue learned it of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding, and to make answere in the time of neede. ¹⁰ Kindle not the coles of sinners, when thou rebukest them, least thou be burnt in the fyerie flames of their sinnes. ¹¹ Rise not vp against him that doeth wrong, that he lay not wayte as a spie for thy mouth. ¹² Lende not vnto him that is mightier then thy selfe: for if thou lendest him, count it but lost. ¹³ Be not suertie aboue thy power: for if thou be suretie, thinke to pay it. ¹⁴ Goe not to law with the Iudge: for they will giue sentence according to his owne honour. ¹⁵ Trauaile not by the way with him that is rash, least he doe thee iniurie: for he followeth his owne wilfulnesse, and so shalt thou perish through his follie. ¹⁶ Striue not with him that is angry, and goe not with him into the wildernesse: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no helpe, he will ouerthrow thee. ¹⁷ Take no counsell at a foole: for he can not keepe a thing close. ¹⁸ Doe no secrete thing before a stranger: for thou canst not tell what he goeth aboue. ¹⁹ Open not thine heart vnto euery man, least he be vnthankful to thee, & put thee to reprofe.