Men do not despise a thief if he steals
To satisfy himself when he is hungry;

The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense;
He who would destroy himself does it.

“But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm.

The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered.

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.

He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself
Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.

A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.