1. Don’t be preoccupied with your money,and don’t say, "I’m self-sufficient."
2. Don’t follow your inclinationor your strength,in order to walk in the desiresof your heart.
3. And don’t say,"Who’ll have power over me?"When the Lord punishes,he will punish.
4. Don’t say, "Sure, I sinned,but what happened to me?"The Lord is patient indeed.
5. Don’t be too confidentof being forgiven,adding sin upon sin.
6. Don’t say, "His compassion is great;he will forgive the whole heapof my sins."Mercy and wrath are with him,and his anger will rest on sinners.
7. Don’t wait to turn back to the Lord.Don’t put it off day after day,because the Lord’s wrathwill come forth suddenly;when the time for punishment comes, you will be destroyed.
8. Don’t be preoccupiedwith ill-gotten gains;it will be of no benefitwhen you are in trouble.
9. Don’t be blown about by every wind,and don’t take every shortcut.This is how the devious sinner acts.
10. Be firmly groundedin your understanding,and let your speech be consistent.
11. Listen carefully,and utter a patient reply.
12. If you have understanding,answer your neighbor,but if you don’t,clap your hand over your mouth.
13. Speaking brings glory or dishonor.Indeed, the tonguecan be a person’s downfall.
14. Don’t get a reputationfor being a slanderer,and don’t set traps for peoplewith your speech,because shame comes to the thief,and terrible blamecomes upon the deceitful.
15. Don’t be ignorant in matterslarge or small.