16
A sinner will overthrow the prosperity of his surety,
17
and one who does not feel grateful will abandon his rescuer.
18
Being surety has ruined many men who were prosperous, and has shaken them like a wave of the sea; it has driven men of power into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19
The sinner who has fallen into suretyship and pursues gain will fall into lawsuits.
20
Assist your neighbor according to your ability, but take heed to yourself lest you fall.
21
The essentials for life are water and bread and clothing and a house to cover one's nakedness.
22
Better is the life of a poor man under the shelter of his roof than sumptuous food in another man's house.
23
Be content with little or much.
24
It is a miserable life to go from house to house, and where you are a stranger you may not open your mouth;
25
you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear bitter words:
26
"Come here, stranger, prepare the table, and if you have anything at hand, let me have it to eat."