Circumstances to avoid

¹Don’t fight with powerful people,

or you might fall into their hands.

²Don’t argue with rich people,

since they might outmatch

your resources;

³Don’t fight with talkative people,

adding fuel to their fire.

⁴Don’t make fun of the uneducated,

or your ancestors might be insulted.

⁵Don’t reproach someone

turning away from sin;

remember that we are all

worthy of punishment.

⁶Don’t dishonor people in their old age;

some of us are growing old as well.

⁷Don’t celebrate

because someone has died;

remember that we all will pass away.

⁸Don’t neglect the conversation

of the wise,

because you will learn instruction

from them,

⁹Don’t reject the words of the aged,

because they also learned

from their elders,

and you will learn understanding

from them

and how to give an answer

when it is necessary.

¹⁰Don’t stoke up the coals of a sinner,

and don’t let his fire set you ablaze.

¹¹Don’t rise out of your seat

in the presence of insolent persons,

because they might set a trap

for what you say.

¹²Don’t lend to people

who are more powerful than you,

but if you do lend,

treat it as though it were lost.

¹³Don’t guarantee a loan

beyond your ability,

and if you do guarantee one,

consider that you will need to pay.

¹⁴Don’t go to court with a judge;

people will judge him

according to his prestige.

¹⁵Don’t walk on the road

with reckless people,

They will walk wherever they want,

¹⁶Don’t get in a fight

with hot-tempered people,

and don’t travel through the desert

with them,

¹⁷Don’t consult with fools,

because they can’t keep a secret.

¹⁸Don’t do anything in front of strangers

that should be kept hidden,

for you don’t know what they will reveal.

¹⁹Don’t open your heart to just anyone,

and don’t accept a favor from just anyone.