1. Every friend will say,"I too have been a friend,"but there’s a friend who is onein name only.
2. Doesn’t the pain bring a personclose to deathwhen a companion and friendturns into an enemy?
3. Evil inclination,how did you get involvedin covering the land with deceit?
4. Some companions take delightin a friend’s happiness,but they turn against themin a time of distress.
5. Some companions work alongsidea friend for their stomach’s sake,but in the heat of battle,they will shield themselves.
6. Don’t forget friends in your heart,and don’t neglect themwhen it comes to your money.
7. Every counselor spews out advice,but some give advicefor their own benefit.
8. Guard yourself against counselors,and know beforehandwhere their interest lies,since they too,will give advice for their own benefitand might cast the lot against you.
9. They might say to you, "Your way is good,"but they will stand asideto see what will happen to you.
10. Don’t consult with peoplewho view you with suspicion;hide your plans from thosewho are jealous of you.
11. Don’t consult with a womanabout her rival,or with the cowardly about war;or with a merchant about business,or with a buyer about a sale;or with a slanderer about gratitude,or with the unmerciful about kindness;or with the idle about anythinginvolving work,or with an annual laborer aboutfinishing a job;or with a lazy household slaveabout a large task.Don’t look to these personsfor any advice.
12. Consult instead with a godly personwhom you knowkeeps the commandments,who thinks the same way you doand will empathize with you if you fail.
13. Listen carefully to whatyour own heart tells you,since nothing is more faithfulto you than it.
14. At times a person’s intuitionkeeps them informedbetter than seven sentriessitting high up on a lookout.
15. But above everything else,pray to the Most High,so that he may make your path straightin truth.
16. Speech is the beginning of every deed,and planning comes beforeevery action.
17. The key to change is the heart;
18. it poses four possibilities:good and evil, life and death,and their continual masteris the tongue.
19. Some people instruct many,but they are useless to themselves.
20. Some skilled speakers are hated;they will be deprived of any luxuries.
21. The Lord hasn’t granted themany refinement,because they are deprivedof any wisdom.
22. Some people are wise to theirown benefit,and the fruits of their understandingare evident to all.
23. The wise will instruct their own people,and the fruits of their understandingare trustworthy.
24. Wise people will be highly praised,and everyone who sees themwill consider them to be favored.
25. A person’s life is a limited time,but Israel’s days cannot be numbered.
26. Those who are wise among their peoplewill inherit honor,and their names will live forever.
27. My child, test yourself during your life.See what’s bad for you,and don’t give in to it.
28. All things aren’t beneficial to everybody,and all things aren’t pleasingto every person.
29. Don’t be greedy for every delicacy,and don’t be unrestrained with food.
30. Eating a lot of food will make one sick,and gluttony will lead to nausea.
31. Many have died because of gluttony,but those who are on guard against itwill prolong life.