Whoso toucheth pitch shall be defiled; and whoso companioneth with a proud man shall be like unto him. Beware lest thou be presumptuous, and humble thyself in thy foolishness; be not abased in thy wisdom, lest humility ensnare thee into folly. If a mighty man invite thee, withdraw thyself; so shall he the more invite thee. Approach not unto him to speak, neither trust in his many words: for by his multitude of speaking he will prove thee, and with his smiles he will examine thee. He hath no mercy, he performeth not what he promiseth, and he withholdeth not from injury and bonds throughout thy life. Love the Lord, and call upon Him for thy salvation. Every living creature loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbour.

Lift not a burden beyond thy strength, neither compare thyself with him that is mightier and richer than thou. Every body keepeth company with its kind, and a man cleaveth to his like. The wilderness is the prey for lions, and so the poor are pastures for the rich. When the rich man is shaken, his friends uphold him; but when the humble man falleth, his friends cast him out. The poor man speaketh, and they say, This one: and if he stumble, they throw him down.

How shall the earthenware pot and the cauldron be joined? When they are struck together, they will break.

The rich man oppresseth, and shouteth; and the poor man is oppressed, and entreateth.

If thou art profitable, he will use thee; but if thou art fruitless, he will forsake thee.

If thou hast money, he will be thy companion, and will consume thy money, yet he travaileth not.

If he hath need of thee, he will beguile thee, and smile upon thee, and promise thee, and speak kind words to thee, saying, What is thy need?

And he will present to thee such food as will shame thee, until he hath consumed thy substance two or three times; and finally he will mock thee, and after that see thee, and reject thee, and shake his head at thee.

Fear God, and wait for His hand.

Intrude not, lest thou be thrust out; neither stand far off, lest thou be forgotten.

Be circumspect and very attentive, for thou art on the brink of falling.

And if thou hear these things in thy sleep, then awake.

Shall the wolf be compared with the lamb? So the sinner with the righteous.

What peace is there between the hyena and the dog? And what peace between the rich and the poor?

Humility is an abomination to the proud; and so the poor man is to the rich.

When a rich man stumbleth, many uplift him with evil deeds and speak.

When a humble man stumbleth, they rebuke him with wisdom, so they give no place for his words.

When a rich man speaketh, all keep silence, and they extol his speech to the clouds.

Riches befit him that is without sin, and poverty is loathsome in the mouth of the hypocrite.

The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good or for evil.

A cheerful countenance cometh from a good heart, and the search for proverbs wearieth the thoughts.