This verse offers practical wisdom on relationships and personal conduct. It advises choosing a spouse from within one's community, promoting unity and shared values. The emphasis on loving one's brothers and not despising them underscores the importance of familial and communal bonds. Pride is highlighted as a destructive force, leading to confusion and downfall. The warning against idleness serves as a reminder that laziness can result in poverty and hardship. Idleness is described as the root of famine, suggesting that active engagement and responsibility are crucial for a prosperous life. The verse encourages a life of love, humility, and diligence, advocating for a harmonious and productive community. By fostering these values, individuals can avoid the negative consequences of pride and laziness, ensuring stability and growth both personally and collectively.
"Now, my son, love your brothers, and in your heart do not despise your brothers, the sons and daughters of your people, by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion, and in idleness there is loss and dire poverty, because idleness is the mother of famine."
Tobit 4:13
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