Wider Ancient Witness Archive · 4.1 Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom Background Archive
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Babylonian Counsels of Wisdom
This text is included as a comparative, historical, philosophical, ritual, textual, or fragmentary witness. It is not presented as part of the Restored Bible.
The Babylonian Counsels of Wisdom
[Akkadian maxims of counsel, in the manner of a father to a son; preserved with some damage.]
Do not keep company with a quarrelsome man, nor follow the counsel of a fool; do not be drawn into the talk of the wicked. Let your mouth be guarded, and your speech weighed; for as a man’s wealth is his honor, so the slip of his tongue is his ruin. Do not speak rashly, lest you regret it; restrain your lips, and consider before you answer.
Do not return evil to the man who disputes with you; requite with kindness the one who does you wrong. Be fair to your enemy; let your mood be gentle to your opponent. Do not let your heart be hardened against the one who pleads you on, but give him food to eat and beer to drink; treat him with mercy, and do good, and the god will see it and turn it to good for you.
Give to the poor, and feed the hungry; clothe the naked; for the one who does kindness, his god is pleased with him, and rewards him. Do not slander; do not speak what is unseemly. As for the talebearer, the god of justice will bring him to ruin. Worship your god each day with offering and prayer, that incense may be fitting to him; bow before him in the morning, and he will give you wide understanding. [Line damaged]
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