7
Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
8
Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.
9
Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:
10
Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
11
Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.
12
Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,
13
Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work
14
Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.
15
But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
16
Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
17
And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.