2 Don’t be enamoredof your own intelligencelest your strength be taken captivelike a bull.
3 You will devour your leaves,destroy your fruit,and leave yourself like a withered tree.
4 If you have a bad soul, it will destroy you;it will make you a joke to your enemies.
5 Pleasant speech gains more friends for itself,and a sweet-speaking tonguewill multiply pleasant exchanges.Let those who are at peace with yoube many,but let only one in a thousandbe your advisor.
7 If you make friends, test them thoroughlyand don’t trust them quickly.
8 Some are friends when it is convenient,but they won’t stay aroundduring hard times.
9 There are friends who turn into enemies,and they will revealyour disgraceful arguments.