3 1And now, my children, hearken unto me and beware of the spirit of deceit and envy. 2For envy ruleth over the whole mind of a man, and suffereth him neither to eat nor to drink, nor to do any good thing. 3But it ever suggesteth (to him) to destroy him that he envieth; 4and so long as he that is envied flourisheth, he that envieth fadeth away. 5Two years therefore I afflicted my soul with fasting in the fear of the Lord, and I learnt that deliverance from envy cometh by the fear of God. 6For if a man flee to the Lord, the evil spirit runneth away from him, and his mind is lightened. 7And henceforward he sympathiseth with him whom he envied and forgiveth those who are hostile to him, and so ceaseth from his envy.