2
Don't lift something that's too heavy for you, and don't associate with people who are more powerful and rich What does a clay pot have in common The one will knock against the other and be shattered.
3
Rich people inflict injury, but then act as if they're the ones who have been wronged; the poor suffer injury, but they're the ones who 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 you and smile at you and give you hope; they will speak nicely to you and say, "What do you need?"
7
They will embarrass you with their fine foods, until they have cleaned you out two or three times over. In the end they will mock you, and after these things, they will see you and abandon you and shake their heads at you.
8
Take care that you don't go astray, and don't be humiliated by 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 speak with them as an equal, and don't trust in their lengthy conversations, because they will test you with a lot of talking; and when they are smiling, they are really examining you.
12
Those who won't guard your secrets are cruel, and they won't spare you from mistreatment and imprisonment.