2. Don’t lift somethingthat’s too heavy for you,and don’t associate with peoplewho are more powerful and richthan you are.What does a clay pot have in commonwith a metal cauldron?The one will knock against the otherand be shattered.
3. Rich people inflict injury,but then act as if they’re the oneswho have been wronged;the poor suffer injury,but they’re the oneswho must apologize.
4. If you are useful to the rich,they will work with you,but if you are in need,they will abandon you.
5. If you own anything,they will live with you;they will exhaust what you have,and they won’t suffer.
6. If they need you, they will deceive youand smile at you and give you hope;they will speak nicely to you and say,"What do you need?"
7. They will embarrass youwith their fine foods,until they have cleaned you outtwo or three times over.In the end they will mock you,and after these things,they will see you and abandon youand shake their heads at you.
8. Take care that you don’t go astray,and don’t be humiliatedby your own foolishness.
9. When powerful people invite you,show yourself reluctant,and they will invite you all the more.
10. Don’t be forward,or you might be rejected;and don’t stand far off,or you might be forgotten.
11. Don’t think that you can speakwith them as an equal,and don’t trust in theirlengthy conversations,because they will test youwith a lot of talking;and when they are smiling, they are really examining you.
12. Those who won’t guard your secretsare cruel,and they won’t spare youfrom mistreatmentand imprisonment.
13. Be on guard and pay attention,because you are tiptoeingaround your own downfall.
15. All living creatures love what is like them,and all people their neighbors.