1
Every friend will say, "I too have been a friend," but there's a friend who is one in name only.
2
Doesn't the pain bring a person close to death when a companion and friend turns into an enemy?
3
Evil inclination, how did you get involved in covering the land with deceit?
4
Some companions take delight in a friend's happiness, but they turn against them in a time of distress.
5
Some companions work alongside a friend for their stomach's sake, but in the heat of battle, they will shield themselves.
6
Don't forget friends in your heart, and don't neglect them when it comes to your money.
7
Every counselor spews out advice, but some give advice for their own benefit.
8
Guard yourself against counselors, and know beforehand where their interest lies, since they too, will give advice for their own benefit and might cast the lot against you.
9
They might say to you, "Your way is good," but they will stand aside to see what will happen to you.
10
Don't consult with people who view you with suspicion; hide your plans from those who are jealous of you.
11
Don't consult with a woman about her rival, or with the cowardly about war; or with a merchant about business, or with a buyer about a sale; or with a slanderer about gratitude, or with the unmerciful about kindness; or with the idle about anything involving work, or with an annual laborer about finishing a job; or with a lazy household slave about a large task. Don't look to these persons for any advice.
12
Consult instead with a godly person whom you know keeps the commandments, who thinks the same way you do and will empathize with you if you fail.
13
Listen carefully to what your own heart tells you, since nothing is more faithful to you than it.
14
At times a person's intuition keeps them informed better than seven sentries sitting high up on a lookout.
15
But above everything else, pray to the Most High, so that he may make your path straight in truth.
Speech and moderation
16 Speech is the beginning of every deed, and planning comes before every action.
17
The key to change is the heart;
18
it poses four possibilities: good and evil, life and death, and their continual master is the tongue.
19
Some people instruct many, but they are useless to themselves.
20
Some skilled speakers are hated; they will be deprived of any luxuries.
21
The Lord hasn't granted them any refinement, because they are deprived of any wisdom.
22
Some people are wise to their own benefit, and the fruits of their understanding are evident to all.
23
The wise will instruct their own people, and the fruits of their understanding are trustworthy.
24
Wise people will be highly praised, and everyone who sees them will consider them to be favored.
25
A person's life is a limited time, but Israel's days cannot be numbered.
26
Those who are wise among their people will inherit honor, and their names will live forever.
27
My child, test yourself during your life. See what's bad for you, and don't give in to it.
28
All things aren't beneficial to everybody, and all things aren't pleasing to every person. and don't be unrestrained with food.
29
Don't be greedy for every delicacy,
30
Eating a lot of food will make one sick, and gluttony will lead to nausea.
31
Many have died because of gluttony, but those who are on guard against it will prolong life.