Chapter XIII · Location 13 of 51
Chapter 13 · Open to readFrom Ecclesiasticus · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 13 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
Pitch, pot and rich-client comparisons convey attributed warnings. Powerful-host etiquette includes restraint in both closeness and distance. Social speech bias precedes conscience and the difficult countenance-token ending.
Chapter breakdown
Ecclesiasticus 13 compares pride-fellowship with pitch staining and higher-status company with a burden. Richer association is warned against; earthen pot and kettle collision breaks the former, with no specified iron. The rich wrongdoer fumes while wronged poor must be silent. Giving brings exploitation, empty hands abandonment, assets depletion without pity. Need brings flattering smiles and hopeful questions, meals shame until resources are drained twice or thrice, then laughter and rejection. Humble oneself to God, wait for his hands and beware folly, without being lowly in wisdom to one's deception.
If invited by a mightier person withdraw to prompt renewed invitation, but avoid both troublesome closeness and distance causing forgetfulness. Do not speak as equal or trust plentiful words sifting secrets; cruel minds store words for injury and prison. Listen attentively amid ruin's danger; a sleep-and-waking image precedes lifelong God-love and salvation's prayer. This gives neither a named magistrate nor explicit advancement promises.
Beasts and people consort with like, wolf/lamb images compare sinner/just; holy person/dog and rich/poor fellowship are questioned. Wild ass as lion-prey illustrates rich devouring poor, pride detesting humility. Shaken and deceived rich get helpers and excused proud speech, while fallen and deceived poor are rejected, wise speech denied place. Rich speech is extolled to clouds, poor speech met with dismissal and overthrow upon stumbling. Riches are good with unsinning conscience; poverty is wicked in ungodly mouths. Heart changes face for good or evil, and good-heart/good-face signs are found hardly with labor. These are attributed social criticisms, not proof every unequal association inevitably ruins or conscience is readily readable.
The story inside
Opening: Pitch, pot and rich-client comparisons convey attributed warnings. Development: Powerful-host etiquette includes restraint in both closeness and distance. Conclusion: Social speech bias precedes conscience and the difficult countenance-token ending.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1Pitch, pot and rich-client comparisons convey attributed warnings.
- 2Powerful-host etiquette includes restraint in both closeness and distance.
- 3Social speech bias precedes conscience and the difficult countenance-token ending.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 74451–74452
13:1. He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.
Lines 74458–74459
13:3. What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken.
Lines 74540–74541
13:30. Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.
