Here is a teaching based on observation and life experience: do not admit strangers into your home. The wise man should not allow strangers to invade his home because they may be people who end up sowing discord and contradiction among family members. Contrast this teaching with the legendary hospitality of Eastern people. However, it must be remembered that Ben Sira’s era was marked by heavy human traffic, with many foreigners coming and going, bringing news, opinions, and new concepts—some perfect, but others very ambiguous—which could destabilize the way of life and thinking of the more traditional members of the Jewish community at any moment.