1Whoever touches pitch, his hand will stick to it; and whoever associates with a scoffer will learn his way.
2Why carry what is too heavy for you? And why associate with someone richer than you? What partnership has an earthen pot with a kettle? The kettle strikes it, and the pot is broken.
3A rich man does wrong, and he acts arrogantly; but if a poor man does wrong, he must beg for mercy.
4If you are useful to him, he will exploit you; and if you become needy, he will not spare you.
5If you have anything, he will speak kindly to you; he will impoverish you, and feel no pain.
6If he needs you, he will deceive you; he will smile at you and give you hope.
7He will deceive you as long as you are useful; two or three times he will strip you bare. Afterward, he will see you and pass you by, and he will shake his head at you.
8Be careful not to be too arrogant, and do not be like those who lack knowledge.
9When a noble approaches, keep your distance, and all the more will he draw you near.
10Do not press forward, lest you be pushed away; and do not stand too far off, lest you be hated.
11Do not presume to be familiar with him, and do not trust his many words. For his lengthy conversation is a test, and while he smiles at you, he is examining you.
12A cruel man causes stumbling and shows no compassion; he plots conspiracies against many lives.
13Take care and be cautious, and do not walk with violent men.
14All flesh loves its own kind, and every person loves one who is like him.
15Every kind of creature is with its own, and a person will associate with his own kind.
16What partnership has a wolf with a lamb? So it is between the wicked and the righteous.
17What peace can there be between a hyena and a dog? And what peace between the rich and the poor?
18Wild donkeys in the desert are the prey of the lion; so the poor are the pasture of the rich.
19Humility is an abomination to the proud, and the poor are an abomination to the rich.
20When a rich man stumbles, he is supported by his friends; but when a poor man falls, he is pushed away even by his friends.
21When a rich man speaks, he has many helpers, and his ugly words are made to sound beautiful.
22A poor man stumbles, and they rebuke him; he speaks wisely, but there is no room for him.
23When a rich man speaks, all are silent, and they exalt his wisdom to the clouds.
24When a poor man speaks, they say, “Who is this?” And if he stumbles, they push him over.
25Wealth is good when it is without sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the arrogant.
26A person’s heart changes his face, whether for good or for evil.
27The sign of a good heart is a bright face, but finding proverbs requires laborious thought.
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