Lost Books of the Bible (143 page)

9And he returned, and earnestly pleaded to the Most High God, and believed, and sought Him with a burning heart, saying, ' Most High God, Creator of Heavens and earth, Creator of all created things!

10 I beg You to give me a boy, that I may be consoled by him, that he may be present at my death, that (he may close my eyes, and that he may bury me.'

11 Then a voice came to him saying, 'because you have relied first (predominately) on graven images (idols), and have (offered sacrifices to them, you shall remain childless all of your life.

12 But take Nadan your sister's son, and make him your child and teach him your learning and your good breeding (manners), and at your death he shall bury you.'

13 Thereupon he took Nadan his sister's son, who was a little suckling. And he handed him over to eight wet-nurses (lactating women who function as nannies), that they might suckle him and bring him up.

14 And they brought him up with good food and gentle training and silken clothing, and purple and crimson.  And he was seated upon couches of silk.

15 And when Nadan grew big and walked, shooting up, like a tall cedar, Ahikar taught him good manners along with writing, science, and philosophy.

16 And after many days King Sennacherib looked at Ahikar and saw that he had grown very old, and moreover he said to him.

17 ' my honored friend, the skilful, the trusty, the wise, the governor, my secretary, my vizier, my Chancellor and director; truly you are grown very old and are weighted down with years; and your departure from (this world must be near.

18 Tell me who shall replace you in my service after you are gone.' And Ahikar said to him, ' my lord, may your head live forever (may your dynasty endure)! There is Nadan, my sister's son. I have made him my child.

19 And I have raised and taught him my wisdom and my knowledge.'

20 And the king said to him, 'Ahikar, bring him to me here, so that I may see him, and if I find him suitable, I will put him in your place; and you shall go your way, to take a rest and to live the remainder of your life in sweet repose.'

21 Then Ahikar went and presented Nadan his sister's son. And he did homage and wished him power and honor.

22 And he looked at him and admired him and rejoiced in him and said to Ahikar: 'Is this your son, Ahikar? I pray (that God may preserve him. And as you have served me and my father Sarhadum so may this boy of yours serve me and fulfill my undertakings, my needs, and my business, so that I may honor him and make (him powerful for your sake.'

23 And Ahikar did obeisance to the king and said to him 'May your head live forever, my lord the king! I seek from you that you may be patient with my boy Nadan and forgive his mistakes that he may serve you as it is fitting.'

24 Then the king swore to him that he would make him the greatest of his favorites, and the most powerful of his friends, and that he should be with him in all honor and respect. And he kissed his hands and bade him farewell.

25 And he took Nadan his sister's son with him and seated him in a parlor and set about teaching him night and day till he had crammed him with wisdom and knowledge more than with bread and water.

CHAP. II.

1. Thus he taught him, saying: 'my son, hear my words and follow my advice and remember what I say.

2 If you hear a word, let it die in your heart, and reveal it not to another, lest it becomes a live coal and burn your tongue and cause a pain in your body, and you bring reproach on yourself, and you are shamed before God and man. (If you cannot keep a secret, you will never be trusted.)

3 My son, if you have heard a report, spread it not; and if you have seen something, tell it not. (Do not gossip.)

4 My son, make your eloquence easy to the listener, and be not hasty to return an answer. (Do not pontificate or be a know-it-all.)

5 My son, when you have heard anything, hide it not. (Do not keep secrets.)

6 My son, loose not a sealed knot, nor untie it, and seal not a loosened knot.  (A wax seal was placed over a knot that tied a box or document closed to show that it was meant to be opened only by a particular person.)

7 My son, covet not outward beauty, for it wanes and passes away, but an honorable remembrance lasts for ever. (Beauty fades. Integrity remains.)

8 My son, let not a silly (foolish) woman deceive you with her speech, lest you die the most miserable of deaths, and she (entangle you in the net until you are trapped.

9 My son, desire not a woman decorated with gaudy dress and ointments, who is despicable and silly (foolish) in her soul. (Woe to you if you bestow on her anything that is yours, or promise her what is in your hand and, she entice (you into sin, and God be angry with you.

10 My son, be not like the almond-tree, for it brings forth leaves before all the trees, and edible fruit after them all, but be like the mulberry - tree, which brings forth edible fruit before all the trees, and leaves after them all.  (The word for “almond-tree” is the same word for “haste.”)

11 My son, bend your head low down, and soften your voice, and be courteous, and walk in the straight path, (and be not foolish. And raise not your voice when you laugh, for if it were by a loud voice that a house was built, the ass would build many houses every day; and if it were by means of strength that the plough were driven, the plough would never be removed from under the shoulders of the camels. (Do not be loud, showy, or a braggart. Be solemn, humble, and courteous. Don’t be an ass.)

12 My son, the removing of stones with a wise man is better than the drinking of wine with a sorry man. (Better to work with the wise than play with the fools.)

13 My son, pour out your wine on the tombs of the just, and drink not with ignorant, contemptible people. (Honor the righteous, even if they are dead, but stay away from the ignorant, even if they are the only people around.)

14 My son, stay close (hold on) to wise men who fear God and be like them, and go not near the ignorant, or you will become like him and learn his ways.

15 My son, when you think you have found a comrade or a friend, try (test) him, and afterwards make him a comrade and a friend; and do not praise him without a trial; and do not waste your speech on a man who lacks wisdom.

16 My son, while a shoe stays on your foot, walk with it on the thorns, and make a road for your son, and for your household and your children, and make your ship taut before she goes on the sea and its waves and sinks and cannot be saved. (Prepare yourself before you venture out, and as you go, forge a path for your people.)

17 My son, if the rich man eats a snake, they say, "It is by his wisdom," and if a poor man eats it, the people say, "It is from his hunger."

18 My son, be content with your daily bread and your goods, and covet not what is another's. (Do not be envious.)

19 My son, be not neighbor to the fool, and eat not bread with him, and rejoice not in the misfortune of your neighbors. If your enemy wrongs you, show him kindness.

20 My son, respect and honor a man who fears God.

21 My son, the ignorant man falls and stumbles, and the wise man, even if he stumbles, he is not shaken, and even if he falls he gets up quickly, and if he is sick, he can take care of his life. But as for the ignorant, stupid man, for his disease there is no drug.

22 My son, if a man approach you who is inferior (of lower status) to yourself, go forward to meet him, and remain standing, and if he cannot recompense (pay you back) you, his Lord will recompense you for him.

23 My son, do not spare your son from a beating, for the thrashing of your son is like manure to the garden, and like tying the mouth of a purse, and like the tethering of beasts, and like the bolting of the door.

24 My son, keep your son from wickedness, and teach him manners before he rebels against you and brings you into contempt amongst the people and you hang your head (in shame) in the streets and the assemblies and you be punished for the evil of his wicked deeds.

25 My son, get you a fat ox with a foreskin, and an ass great with its hoofs, and get not an ox with large horns, nor make friends with a tricky man, nor get a quarrelsome slave, nor a thievish handmaid, for everything which you commit to them they will ruin. (Chose utility and not looks. Choose only those who you can trust.)

26 My son, let not your parents curse you, and the Lord be pleased with them; for it has been said, "He who despise his father or his mother let him die the death (I mean the death of sin); and he who honors his parents shall prolong his days and his life and shall see all that is good."

27 My son, walk not on the road without weapons, for you know not when the foe may meet you, so that you may be ready for him. (Be prepared to defend yourself.)

28 My son, be not like a bare, leafless tree that does not grow, but be like a tree covered with its leaves and its (boughs; for the man who has neither wife nor children is disgraced in the world and is hated by them, (like a leafless and fruitless tree. (Marry, have children, produce good things in the world.)

29 My son, be like a fruitful tree on the roadside, whose fruit is eaten by all who pass by, and the beasts of the desert rest under its shade and eat of its leaves.

30 My son, every sheep that wanders from its path and its companions becomes food for the wolf.

31 My son, say not, "My lord is a fool and I am wise,' and do not repeat words of ignorance and folly, or you will be despised by him.

32 My son, be not one of those servants, to whom their lords say, "Get away from us," but be one of those to whom they say, "Approach and come near to us."

33 My son, caress not your slave in the presence of his companion, for you know not which of them shall be of most value to you in the end. (It was common to have sex with a slave. It is best not to divide or make even a slave jealous so both will continue to serve well.)

34 My son, be not afraid of your Lord who created you, lest He be silent to you.

35 My son, make your speech fair and sweeten your tongue; but do not permit your companion to tread on your (foot, lest he tread at another time on your breast.

36 My son, if you beat a wise man with a word of wisdom, it will lurk in his breast like a subtle sense of shame; but if you beat the ignorant with a stick he will neither understand nor hear,

37 My son, if you send a wise man for your needs, do not give him many orders, for he will do your business as you desire: and if you send a fool, do not order him, but go thyself and do your business, for if you order him, he, will not do what you desire. If they send you on business, hurry to fulfill it quickly,

38 My son, do not make an enemy of a man stronger than yourself, for he will take your( measure, and his revenge on you.

39 My son, make trial of your son, and of your servant, before you commit your belongings to them, or they will make away with them; for he who has a full hand is called wise, even if he is stupid and ignorant, and he who (has an empty hand is called poor and ignorant, even if he is the prince of sages.