1And why is it strange that the desires of the soul for participation in beauty are nullified?
2It is for this reason that the temperate Joseph is praised: by reason, he overcame the sexual impulse.
3For when young and in the flower of his age, by reason he nullified the frenzy of the passions.
4And reason is shown to be sovereign not only over the frenzy of sexual desire, but over every other desire.
5The law says: You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor anything that is your neighbor's.
6Certainly, when the law tells us not to covet, I could prove to you more convincingly that reason is able to control desires.
7And so it is with the passions that impede justice.
8How could someone who is a solitary glutton or a glutton or a drunkard be educated, unless reason is clearly sovereign over the passions?
9As soon as someone lives according to the law, even if he is a lover of money, he is forced to act contrary to his nature.
10Lending to the needy without interest and canceling the debt when the seventh year comes.