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.
16. All beings gather togetherwith their own kind,and people cling to thosewho are like them.