| 1. | He who touches pitch blackens his hand; he who associates with an impious man learns his ways. |
| 2. | Bear no burden too heavy for you; go with no one greater or wealthier than yourself. How can the earthen pot go with the metal cauldron? When they knock together, the pot will be smashed: |
| 3. | The rich man does wrong and boasts of it, the poor man is wronged and begs forgiveness. |
| 4. | As long as the rich man can use you he will enslave you, but when you are exhausted, he will abandon you. |
| 5. | As long as you have anything he will speak fair words to you, and with smiles he will win your confidence; |
| 6. | When he needs something from you he will cajole you, then without regret he will impoverish you. |
| 7. | While it serves his purpose he will beguile you, then twice or three times he will terrify you; When later he sees you he will pass you by, and shake his head over you. |
| 8. | Guard against being presumptuous; be not as those who lack sense. |
| 9. | When invited by a man of influence, keep your distance; then he will urge you all the more. |
| 10. | Be not bold with him lest you be rebuffed, but keep not too far away lest you be forgotten. |
| 11. | Engage not freely in discussion with him, trust not his many words; For by prolonged talk he will test you, and though smiling he will probe you. |
| 12. | Mercilessly he will make of you a laughingstock, and will not refrain from injury or chains. |
| 13. | Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of violence. |
| 14. | Every living thing loves its own kind, every man a man like himself. |
| 15. | Every being is drawn to its own kind; with his own kind every man associates. |
| 16. | Is a wolf ever allied with a lamb? So it is with the sinner and the just. |
| 17. | Can there be peace between the hyena and the dog? Or between the rich and the poor can there be peace? |
| 18. | Lion's prey are the wild asses of the desert; so too the poor are feeding grounds for the rich. |
| 19. | A proud man abhors lowliness; so does the rich man abhor the poor. |
| 20. | When a rich man stumbles he is supported by a friend; when a poor man trips he is pushed down by a friend. |
| 21. | Many are the supporters for a rich man when he speaks; though what he says is odious, it wins approval. When a poor man speaks they make sport of him; he speaks wisely and no attention is paid him. |
| 22. | A rich man speaks and all are silent, his wisdom they extol to the clouds. A poor man speaks and they say: "Who is that?" If he slips they cast him down. |
| 23. | Wealth is good when there is no sin; but poverty is evil by the standards of the proud. |
| 24. | The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil. |
| 25. | The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance; withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schemer. |
