1. Worldly-Wise Guy: The Practical Wisdom of Ben Sira Robert McConkey Seneca College

2. 1.Don’t get too busy (you need time to think) The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure, and he who has little business may become wise. The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure, and he who has little business may become wise.

3. How can he become wise who handles the plough, and who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, and whose talk is about bulls? How can he become wise who handles the plough, and who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, and whose talk is about bulls?

4. My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished. My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished.

5. 2.Get a job (but not mine) These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: scolding about lodging and the reproach of the moneylender. These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: scolding about lodging and the reproach of the moneylender.

6. A man who builds his house with other people’s money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound. A man who builds his house with other people’s money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.

7. To take away a neighbour’s living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood. To take away a neighbour’s living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood.

8. “In times of economic uncertainty, never ever f--- with another man’s livelihood.” “In times of economic uncertainty, never ever f--- with another man’s livelihood.” -- Guido the Killer Pimp, from the movie Risky Business (1983)

9. You have gathered nothing in your youth; how then can you find anything in your old age? You have gathered nothing in your youth; how then can you find anything in your old age?

10. 3.Get happy (before it’s too late) Gladness of heart is the life of man, and the rejoicing of a man is length of days. Gladness of heart is the life of man, and the rejoicing of a man is length of days.

11. My son, treat yourself well, according to your means… My son, treat yourself well, according to your means…

12. Remember that death will not delay, and the decree of Hades has not been shown to you. Remember that death will not delay, and the decree of Hades has not been shown to you.

13. Do not deprive yourself of a happy day; let not your share of desired good pass you by. Do not deprive yourself of a happy day; let not your share of desired good pass you by.

14. 4.Get over it (and move on…) Do not give yourself over to sorrow, and do not afflict yourself deliberately. Do not give yourself over to sorrow, and do not afflict yourself deliberately.

15. Delight in your soul and comfort your heart. Remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it. Delight in your soul and comfort your heart. Remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it.

16. “I have no interest in sadness. I’ve had a look and there’s nothing down that road.” “I have no interest in sadness. I’ve had a look and there’s nothing down that road.” -- Rita Winters in Unless by Carol Shields

17. 5.Get drunk (in season) Wine is like life to man if you drink it in moderation. Wine is like life to man if you drink it in moderation.

18. What is life to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad. What is life to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad.

19. Wine drunk in season and temperately is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul. Wine drunk in season and temperately is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.

20. “One should always be drunk. That’s all that matters…. So as not to feel Time’s horrible burden, one which breaks your shoulder and bows you down, you must get drunk without cease. “One should always be drunk. That’s all that matters…. So as not to feel Time’s horrible burden, one which breaks your shoulder and bows you down, you must get drunk without cease. But with what? With wine, poetry, or virtue as you choose…. So that you may not be the martyred slaves of Time, get drunk….” But with what? With wine, poetry, or virtue as you choose…. So that you may not be the martyred slaves of Time, get drunk….” -- Charles Baudelaire

21. 6.Get humble (and mind your own business) Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient. Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient.

22. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

23. Seek not what is too difficult for you, nor investigate what is beyond your power. Seek not what is too difficult for you, nor investigate what is beyond your power.

24. Reflect upon what has been assigned to you, for you do not need what is hidden. Reflect upon what has been assigned to you, for you do not need what is hidden.

25. Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks, for matters too great for human understanding have been shown to you. Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks, for matters too great for human understanding have been shown to you.

26. 7.Get quiet (and stay that way) O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from falling [and] my tongue may not destroy me. O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from falling [and] my tongue may not destroy me.

27. The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is in their mind. The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is in their mind.

28. There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak. There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak.

29. 8.Get some friends (“good” ones) Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on. Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.

30. Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends. Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends.

31. Do not consult with one who looks at you suspiciously; hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. Do not consult with one who looks at you suspiciously; hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.

32. But stay constantly with one… whose soul is in accord with your soul, and who will sorrow with you if you fail. But stay constantly with one… whose soul is in accord with your soul, and who will sorrow with you if you fail.

33. 9.Get a wife (a “good” one) A good wife is a great blessing. A good wife is a great blessing.

34. A silent wife is a gift… and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul. A silent wife is a gift… and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul.

35. Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled. Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.

36. I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife. I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife. Any wound, but not the wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a wife! Any wound, but not the wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a wife!

37. Do not give yourself to a woman so that she gains mastery over your strength. Do not give yourself to a woman so that she gains mastery over your strength. Do not go to meet a loose woman, lest you fall into her snares. Do not go to meet a loose woman, lest you fall into her snares.

38. Do not associate with a woman singer, lest you be caught in her intrigues. Do not associate with a woman singer, lest you be caught in her intrigues. Do not give yourself to harlots, lest you lose your inheritance. Do not give yourself to harlots, lest you lose your inheritance.

39. From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die. From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.

40. 10.Get old (and get gone) Speak, you who are older, for it is fitting that you should, but with accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music. Speak, you who are older, for it is fitting that you should, but with accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music.

41. Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk; do not display your cleverness out of season. Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk; do not display your cleverness out of season.

42. Do not rejoice over any one’s death; remember that we all must die. Do not rejoice over any one’s death; remember that we all must die.

43. Do not disdain a man when he is old, for some of us are growing old. Do not disdain a man when he is old, for some of us are growing old.

44. When a man has finished, he is just beginning, and when he stops, he will be at a loss. When a man has finished, he is just beginning, and when he stops, he will be at a loss.

45. Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his children. Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his children.

47. 11.Get real A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools. A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.

48. As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams. As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams. And yet… And yet…

49. Yes, we can! Blessed is he whose heart does not condemn him, and who has not given up his hope. Blessed is he whose heart does not condemn him, and who has not given up his hope.

50. 12. Get wise (little by little) A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many, and yet be unprofitable to himself. A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many, and yet be unprofitable to himself.

51. Establish the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is. Establish the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is. For a man’s soul sometimes keeps him better informed than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower. For a man’s soul sometimes keeps him better informed than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower.

52. He who despises small things will fail little by little. He who despises small things will fail little by little.