Ecclesiasticus 8

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Strive not with a mighty man, lest thou fall into his hands.

Strive not with a mighty man, lest you fall into his hands.

2Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.

Be not at variance with a rich man — a state abounding in outer goods — lest he overweigh you: for gold has destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings, of ruling states.

3Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.

Strive not with a man full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.

4Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced.

Jest not with a rude man, lest your ancestors be disgraced.

5Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.

Reproach not a man that turns from sin — from error — but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.

6Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old.

Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old.

7Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all.

Rejoice not over your greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all.

8Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to serve great men with ease.

Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint yourself with their proverbs: for of them you shall learn instruction, and how to serve great men with ease.

9Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth.

Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them you shall learn understanding, and to give answer as need requires.

10Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire.

Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest you be burnt with the flame of his fire.

11Rise not up [in anger] at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words

Rise not up in anger at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap you in your words.

12Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou lendest him, count it but lost.

Lend not to him that is mightier than yourself; for if you lend him, count it but lost.

13Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it.

Be not surety above your power: for if you be surety, take care to pay it.

14Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour.

Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour.

15Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with him through his folly.

Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous to you: for he will do according to his own will, and you shall perish with him through his folly — his sense-bound closedness.

16Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee.

Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood — the life-stream of a state — is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow you.

17Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.

Consult not with a fool — the sense-bound state, closed to the divine order — for he cannot keep counsel.

18Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.

Do no secret thing before a stranger; for you know not what he will bring forth.

19Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn.

Open not your heart to every man, lest he requite you with a shrewd turn.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.