Question 80

Is this done by luxury and intemperance?

Yes. The glutton and the drunkard shall come to poverty,^b

And by sloth and idleness?

Yes. A little more sleep, a little more slumber, so shall thy poverty come like one that travelleth,^c

And by keeping loose company?

Yes. He that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough,^d

And by an excessive love of pleasure?

Yes. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man,^e

And by rash and imprudent engagements for others?

Yes. Be not a surety for debts, for why should he take away thy bed from under thee?^f

And doth that which tends to poverty tend to injustice too?

Yes. Lest I be poor and steal,^g

And by cruelty and uncharitableness?

Yes. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, shall cry himself, and shall not be heard,ⁱ

And by unlawful contracts?

Yes. Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money,^j

And by all unwarrantable arts for the increase of our substance?

Yes. There shall not be found among you one that useth divination or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,^k

And cozening and cheating?

Yes. Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights,^m

And vexatious lawsuits?

Yes. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law, one with another,ⁿ

. Is it a sin for servants to defraud their masters?

Yes. A certain rich man had a steward, and the same was accused to him, that he had wasted his goods,^p

Or for children to steal from their parents?

Yes. Whoso robbeth his father or mother, and saith it is no transgression, is the companion of a destroyer,^q

Is it a sin to steal even the necessaries of life?

Yes. For such shall restore seven fold,^r

And is it equally so to receive or conceal stolen goods?

Yes. Whoso is a partner with a thief, hateth his own soul,^s